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TOWPATH ANDY 







YOUNG AMERICA BOOKS 


When Washington Was Young 
Puckered Moccasins 
The Topaz Seal 

The Magic Canoe 
Black Hawk’s Trail 
Vermilion Clay 

With Fife and Drum 
The Unknown Indian 
The Traveling Gallery 

Down the Ohio 
Towpath Andy 
Abigail 

Little Sally Dutcher 

Oft Told Tales of Lincoln 
The Man Without a Country 




Andy raced along the planned run 


% s 
























TOWPATH ANDY 


By 

FLORANCE WALTON TAYLOR 


u 

Author of 

With Fife and Drum , Vermilion Clay, etc . 



Pictures by 

LILLIAN WUERFEL 


JUNIOR PRESS BOOKS 


ALB E Rj¥WH ITMAN 
4-co 

CHICAGO 

1938 



a. 



•tSji 



Copyright, 1938, by Albert Whitman & Company 






Printed in the TJ.S.A, 


OoT fiJ 1 j38 

©ClA 1 22 382 






















CONTENTS 


Page 

The Musk Mill. 13 

Andy Meets Captain Jim. 28 

The Towpath. 48 

The Strange Passenger. 68 

Toledo Haul... 86 

On to Logansport.105 

A Bit of News.121 

A Place for the Winter.137 

Andy Goes to School.151 

Christmas Day at the Bradleys.166 

Captain Jim Meets with Disaster.180 

Andy Makes a Discovery.194 

Matthew Burke Clears Matters.209 

Spring Comes to the Wabash and Erie.226 

Andy Burke Finds a New Towpath.239 































« 






































































































































































































» 
















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































. 































































































































FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS 


Full Color Plates 

Page 

Andy raced along the planked run.Frontispiece 

Then he followed the strong-looking woman. 12 

The man began talking to Andy. 77 

“This must be Matthew Burke,” she cried gaily....173 
Molly Bradley was lovely in her white wedding 
dress.231 

Blacky and White Plates 

He started on his journey. 21 

“Here’s my home,” he explained. 37 

A packet passed them, bound for Toledo. 57 

The horse jumped and reared. 95 

It was a very lifelike Indian.113 

John Musk still lay helpless.129 

A young girl came running down the hill.141 

“I was well pleased with your work this 

morning”.159 

“Andy, help me put Captain Jim in the sleigh”.... 187 

He took Bill on deck.201 

“He’s riding my own horse, my Dandy”.217 

“A horse! For my very own?”.243 




















Then he followed the strong-loo\ing woman 




































































I 

THE MUSK MILL 

C OME, Andy. Give me a hand with the 
buckets. Soon it grows dark and the 
stock is not fed.” 

“All right, Mrs. Musk,” replied a tall blue'eyed 
boy, who was seated on a stump, surrounded by four 
younger children. He was oiling some harness and 
entertaining the Musk children with a story. He 
dropped the harness at the base of the stump and 
picked up two buckets of com. Then he followed 


!3 




Towpath Andy 


l A 

the strong-looking woman, who swung fearlessly 
along over the foot log which spanned Sugar Creek 
just below the Musk Mill. 

“Children, mind you stay right there ’til we get 
back, and Andy, don’t spill the com into the water,” 
cautioned Maria Musk as she stepped upon the op- 
posite bank of the creek. 

“Yes, ma’am.” Andy Burke gripped the log firmly 
with his bare toes, and balancing the weight of the 
heavy buckets in his hands, soon deposited them by 
the trough, where Mrs. Musk was emptying her load 
of com. 

She brushed her hand wearily across her eyes. “So 
much work, Andy. What with the stock, the mill 
and the store, we’re never through. Tomorrow ah 
ways comes too soon. I don’t know how we ever 
got along without you.” 

“Shucks, ma’am, I’m glad to help, for you and 
Mr. Musk have given me a good home this last year. 
Are we going to make the trip to the canal to¬ 
morrow?” 

“Yes, we’ll start whenever we get the wagon load¬ 
ed. I want to get there as early as we can, before 
all of the boats are loaded.” 



The Mus\ Mill 


15 


When they had fed and watered the live stock, 
Mrs. Musk and Andy returned across the foot log 
to the mill. The four little Musk children were 
waiting impatiently at the edge of the creek, for even 
ninety ear-old Willie was not permitted to cross the 
foot log alone. 

“Come on, Andy, and tell us another story,” 
cried Mary Musk. 

“No, Mary. Andy’s no time for stories now,” 
put in her mother. “I want him to start loading 
the wagon.” She walked toward the house, which 
was a part of the long mill building, and then turned 
again to the children. “Willie, you and Mary can 
help Andy. And mind you keep out of the way, 
Annie and Bertie. Andy, there’s a sight of grist and 
salt pork in the storage room, but you load what 
you can and we’ll finish in the morning.” 

“What we goin’ to have for supper, Ma?” asked 
five-year-old Annie, who was very fond of food. 

“I’m goin’ to make a sugar pie for your father. 
You know what a hand he is for sugar pie, and I 
don’t think it hurts his rheumatiz, none.” 

“Sugar pie!” squealed Annie in delight. “Oh, 
hurry, Ma, for I’m starved now.” 



16 


Towpath Andy 


As soon as Mrs. Musk disappeared into the house 
to get supper, Andy and the two older children 
started to load the wagon. They made trip after 
trip to the storeroom for the sacks of grist and pork. 
Some of the sacks were very heavy, but Andy was 
accustomed to hard work and now, at fourteen, he 
could do as much as many men. Willie and his sister 
struggled nobly with the cumbersome sacks. 

Andy Burke had become the handy boy about 
the Musk Mill, working anywhere that he was need' 
ed. Sometimes he operated the grist mill, grinding 
the grain for the farmers who brought their produce 
there; sometimes he sorted the mail in the post office 
which was also located at the mill, or he waited on 
the trade at the store. 

During the long winter, when trade was slack, 
Andy had kept a school for the Musk children, 
teaching the three older ones to read and write. 
There had been no subscription school near enough 
for them to attend. He told them interesting stories 
of the wanderings of Odysseus, the seige of Troy, 
and of the old Testament heroes, Joseph, David, and 
Moses. A fine teacher the lad made, although he had 
never attended school himself. 



The Musk. Mill 


II 


Andy had appeared at the mill one dark, stormy 
night in late September of the year before. When 
Mrs. Musk had opened the door she had found a 
thinly clad, starving boy, with tragic blue eyes, 
slumped down in a wet heap on the door step. She 
had wisely asked him no questions, but had taken 
him into her home, fed and warmed him, and after 
a few days had been rewarded by his full confidence. 

He told her that he had been hiding in the back' 
woods of Indiana almost a month, eating roots and 
berries, and keeping away from the public roads, for 
fear he would be found and sent to the workhouse. 
When she assured him he could stay at the mill and 
need have no fear of being sent to the workhouse, he 
told her the rest of his pitiful story. 

He had come into eastern Indiana early in the 
spring of 1849 with his mother and father. His 
father was a horse trader, dealing in thoroughbred 
race horses, and for as long as Andy could remember, 
had traveled through the country with a string of 
fine horses. When they arrived in Indiana, his fa' 
ther had six horses, which he was to deliver at St. 
Louis to be sent to New Orleans for the racing 


season. 



i8 


Towpath Andy 


Andy’s mother was a frail, intellectual, little 
woman, the daughter of a horse fancier in Virginia. 
She had been a teacher, keeping a private school for 
the children of the neighboring planters, and she 
had met Matthew Burke when he came to her father’s 
home to deliver some racing horses. As she laugh' 
ingly explained to Andy, it had been love at first 
sight, and soon she married the handsome young 
Irishman, whereupon her father refused to recognize 
her as his daughter. 

After a couple of years of wandering about the 
country by the Burkes, Andy was bom, and he had 
known no permanent home. Although Andy had 
never been to a real school, his mother had taught 
him to read remarkably well, for he had finished the 
fifth reader, and most of the old legends and hero 
tales. He could do all of the simple forms of arith' 
metic, add, subtract, recite the times tables and do 
simple division. 

Often Matthew Burke would leave them in a 
neighborhood for two or three months at a time, 
while he went on his long trips to deliver or buy 
horses. As Andy grew older, his mother begged her 
husband to buy a farm and settle down to raising 




The Musk Mill 


i9 


horses. When they had arrived in Indiana, Matthew 
promised her that he would stop trading horses as 
soon as his St. Louis delivery was made. He had an 
opportunity to pick up a good stock farm amazingly 
cheap, so he paid the sum stipulated to hold the con' 
tract. He left his wife a goodly amount of cash, and 
set out for St. Louis, expecting to return within the 
month. 

Three months passed by, but Matthew Burke had 
not returned. His wife began to worry, fearing that 
some misfortune had befallen him. She was not only 
worried, but she was ill, for she had contracted 
malaria shortly after coming into the state. Weeks 
passed by and still no news came of his father; and 
suddenly Andy’s brave, loving mother was dead. 
Neighbors came over to the farm and helped Andy 
give his mother a decent burial. 

Now the money which his father had left them 
was exhausted. The time had passed for taking up 
the contract for the farm, and the people in the 
community began to talk about what to do with the 
boy, Andy. No one of them wanted to take the 
responsibility of the boy, whose father they thought 
had skipped the country, and the only solution which 



20 


Tou/path Andy 


they offered was to send Andy to the workhouse. 
Andy was terrified, for he had heard dark tales of 
the workhouse from the children, and he refused to 
leave the farm. He knew his father would soon return. 

Many times Matthew Burke had left Andy and 
his mother for several weeks, and Andy knew that 
he would return as soon as he could. When at last 
the owner of the farm came over to tell Andy that 
a new tenant would take over the place the following 
week, and he would have to enter the workhouse, 
Andy resolved to solve his own problem. 

He waited until night and then started out to find 
his father. He knew that St. Louis lay somewhere 
toward the west, and with only the stars to guide 
him, he started on his journey. He dared not risk 
traveling on the main roads by day, for he was afraid 
he might be picked up and sent to that dreadful place 
where orphans and poverty-stricken folk were kept, 
the workhouse. He hid in the woods by day, sleep¬ 
ing and eating as best he could, and he walked as far 
as he could at night. But the nights soon grew colder 
and the autumn rains set in early, so at last he was 
driven to find shelter and food. Luckily for him, he 
sought help at the Musk Mill. 




He started on his journey 

















. 




I 


* 






N 
















' % 











i 
















The Musk Mill 


23 


The Musks had scoffed at the idea of sending such 
an intelligent lad to the workhouse, and although 
they already had four young mouths to feed, they 
offered him a home with them. Sometimes he grew 
lonely and longed for his mother and father, but 
on the whole he was happy working with the Musks. 

The Musk Mill on Sugar Creek was one of the 
largest mills of its kind in that part of Indiana. The 
millrace was about fifty feet long and eight feet wide, 
with a depth the same as the width. It was cut 
through solid sandstone. The race and foundation 
cuts had been chiseled through the rock by hand. 
The timber crib dam was a hundred feet long, filled 
with stone and decked with heavy planking as a 
protection against ice and driftwood. The mill build¬ 
ing was a story and a half, and besides being the home 
of the Musks, it housed the mill, with additions for 
the store and postoffice. 

John Musk was a powerfully built man, capable 
of doing the work of three ordinary men. He had 
built his mill on Sugar Creek more than fifteen years 
before. He had been ill the past several months with 
rheumatism and was not able to leave his bed. While 
he lay helpless in the great bed upstairs, the task of 



24 


Towpath Andy 


operating the triple business, the mill, the postoffice, 
and the store, fell upon his wife’s shoulders, but she 
had found a willing helper in the brave, smiling Andy 
Burke. 

When it grew too dark for Andy and the Musk 
children to finish loading the wagon for the next day’s 
journey, they trooped into the kitchen to wash their 
hands and faces for supper. How good the spicy 
sugar pie, which Mrs. Musk was just taking from 
the oven, did smell! 

“You children sit down now and eat your supper,” 
said Mrs. Musk briskly, as she heaped the food upon 
their plates. “Andy, before you begin, please carry 
these victuals up to John. I’ll bring the sugar pie 
along in a few minutes. It’s to be a surprise, you 
know.” 

Andy carried the plate of food very carefully up 
the stairs to John Musk. 

“Howdy, Mr. Musk?” asked Andy cheerfully, as 
he entered the low'raftered bedroom. 

John Musk smiled as he caught sight of the boy’s 
eager young face. “Better son, better I believe today. 
Have you been loading the wagon?” 

“Yes, sir. I got all the grist laid by, but the potatoes 



The Mus\ Mill 


25 


and salt pork will have to wait until morning. Willie 
and Mary helped me but it got too dark on us. I’ll 
get up early though, for Mrs. Musk says we must 
start as soon as we can.” 

“Yep, you ought to get down to the canal before 
the boats are all loaded. You air a fine lad, Andy, 
not mean and rambunctious like so many boys your 
age. I hope Willie makes as fine a lad as you. Maria’d 
been hard put this spring without you, for I haven’t 
been a mite o’ good to anybody, but it’s a shame you 
air not gettin’ some more book leamin’. I listened to 
you last winter, when you wus teachin’ the childem, 
and you’ve too fine a start to stop now, my boy. This 
country needs educated men.” 

Andy laughed. “That’s what my mother always 
said, Mr. Musk, whenever I got tired of my lessons. 
Maybe that will come, sir, but I’ve learned a lot here 
with you. I can hardly wait for tomorrow, for I’ve 
heard there’s big doings on the canal.” 

“That there is, Andy. You ain’t never seen the 
Wabash and Erie Canal, hev you?” 

“No, sir, and I want to, very much. I’ve heard so 
much about it from the folks who come to the mill.” 

“It air a fine sight, Andy, when it’s filled with 



26 


Tow path Andy 


boats. There’s folks collected from everywhere on 
that canal. I think runnin’ a boat would be a fine life 
and if I wuz young and footloose again, I’d like to 
have a fling at one of them boats myself. Always 
seein’ something different. I’d be a great hand for 
change, if it weren’t for Maria and the children, and 
this tarnation rheumatiz.” 

“Have you traveled very much, Mr. Musk?” 
asked Andy, hoping to be entertained with some of 
Mr. Musk’s rare stories. 

The man in the bed turned with great effort and 
began to eat his supper. He had had a fairly good 
day, so was in better spirits than usual. 

“Not much, Andy, not much. I alius honed to 
go places though, and once when I wuzn’t much 
older than you, I went with my pa on a flatboat 
to New Orleans. That wuz a long trip and a danger¬ 
ous one, but lawsy, I enjoyed it.” John Musk chuckled 
at the memories which crossed his mind, and then 
sighed as he glanced at his helpless body. “My advice 
is to see the world while you’re young, laddie buck. 
See the world before you settle down. I never been 
north of Logansport, nor east of the state line, but 
if I wuz just young again, I’d certainly go.” 



The Musk Mill 


27 


Just then Mrs. Musk entered the room with the 
dish of sugar pie in her hand. “Better tonight, John?” 
she asked brightly. “Look what I brought you.” 

John Musk patted his wife’s work-worn hands 
affectionately, while he sniffed the fragrant air. 
“Sugar pie! Why Maria, you ain’t had time to fool 
with sugar pie today, I hope.” 

“That I have, John, knowing it’s your favorite, and 
I don’t think it’ll hurt your rheumatic a mite.” She 
turned to Andy. “Goodness, child, run down stairs 
and eat your supper. It must be getting cold. Then 
you better hop in bed, for we have to be on our way 
early, remember, if I’m to get any space on one of 
the boats hauling north.” 

“We wus just talkin’ about the canal, Maria. 
Andy’s never seen it. I wuz just sayin’ he ought to 
get out and see the world.” 

Maria Musk frowned. “Now, John, don’t be put¬ 
ting such ideas in the boy’s head. He’s only a lad yet, 
and he’s plenty of time to see the world when he’s 
some older.” 

“Well, that’s right, I guess, Andy. Run along now, 
for you must be hungry after liftin’ so many sacks of 
grist.” 




II 


ANDY MEETS CAPTAIN JIM 

Almost as soon as the sun peeped over the rim of 
the horizon the next morning, Andy climbed out of 
his hard, wooden bed. He shared it with Willie 
Musk in the little cubbyhole behind the kitchen fire' 
place, just off from the kitchen. It had been used for 
wood and cob storage for the large kitchen fireplace, 
but with the advent of Andy into the Musk house' 
hold, Mr. Musk had built a bed in it for the two boys. 
There was scarcely room to turn around between the 
28 










Andy Meets Captain Jim 


29 


logs and the bed, but the cubbyhole had the one 
advantage of being warm in winter and not unbear' 
ably hot in summer. 

Andy dressed as quietly as he could and hoped to 
be at work before any of the household was awake, 
but when he came into the kitchen, Mrs. Musk was 
already getting breakfast. 

“Good morning, Andy. You're up early, but 
there’s a heap to do yet. Is Willie getting up?” 

“No, ma'am. I didn’t call him, for I thought I’d 
get in an hour’s work before any of you were awake. 
But there’s no getting ahead of you.” 

“Call Willie, so’s he can help you. The girls can 
do the dishes while I’m getting dressed. I’ve packed 
a lunch to take with us, but I want to fix a snack 
for John before I go.” 

As soon as the boys finished their breakfast, they 
started packing the potatoes. They worked for ah 
most two hours and then were ready to hitch the 
horses to the wagon. Andy rubbed the team down 
and threw the harness across the horses’ broad backs, 
talking to them all the while. The animals knew 
that he liked them and responded by nulling him 
whenever he came near their heads. At last they 



30 


Towpath Andy 


were all ready. The little girls were stowed in the 
wagon bed among the grist and potato sacks, while 
Andy and Willie sat on the seat with Mrs. Musk. 

She grasped the reins firmly, clucked to the horses 
and drove carefully across the covered bridge which 
spanned Sugar Creek about a quarter of a mile below 
the mill. Then she went through the woods to the 
big road which led to Lodi. It was about twenty 
miles to the canal by the big road, but Mrs. Musk 
dared not push the horses, for the wagon was heavily 
loaded; so it was almost noon before they came in 
sight of the town. The hitching racks were filled 
with teams, for it seemed as if everyone had come 
into town to do trading today. 

“Let’s go down to the store and get some bananas, 
Ma,” said Willie. “You know you promised we’d 
get some the next time we came to Lodi.” 

“Yes, Willie, I’ll get some later on, if there’s been 
any brought up from New Orleans, but I think we’d 
better go straight to the Wabash and Erie Canal 
now.” 

Mrs. Musk was eager to find a boat to take her 
wagonload of produce, so she turned down the nar¬ 
row road which led to the warehouses bordering 



Andy Meets Captain Jim 


31 


on the canal. In a few minutes they arrived at the 
edge of the water, where a planked run, wide enough 
to accommodate a wagon, paralleled the canal. From 
the sides of the warehouses, stubby quays jutted out 
into the water. The canal was swarming with boats 
of many kinds and colors, from keelboats and barges 
to broadhoms and packets. 

“Geems! Look at all the boats, Andy,” cried 
Willie. “There’s more here than last year.” 

“Jeru!” Andy whistled in amazement, for he had 
not known there were so many boats in the world. 

Mrs. Musk stopped the horses and called to a man 
who was standing by the boat nearest them. “Hey 
there, sir, can you take my load of crops on your 
boat?” 

The man dropped the towline which he had been 
winding and walked over to the Musk wagon. 
“Sorry ma’am, but I’m loaded. Couldn’t take an' 
other pound. Got more than I ought to carry now. 
Bound north or south?” 

“North. Do you know if any of these boats here- 
abouts can take my grist, pork, and potatoes?” 

“None of ’em right along here, ma’am. They’re 
all set to go, but let me see.” The man peered down 



32 


Towpath Andy 


the canal toward the elevator some several hundred 
yards away. “There was a young fellow here a while 
ago, who said he had a leetle more room. He’s got a 
freighter, an old boat painted red, and he’s got a load 
of ashes for somewheres north. He was tied up near 
the elevator. Name’s Captain Jim Pride, a trust' 
worthy sort. Might hunt him, ma’am.” 

“Thank you, sir.” 

Mrs. Musk slapped the reins on the horses’ backs, 
making them amble slowly past the warehouses to- 
ward the elevator. The children stared curiously at 
the boats which were tied up at the quays. There 
were a few pirogues, log canoes with square stems 
rigged up with square sails, two line packets with 
shiny curtained windows, some broadhoms, and 
shanty boats. One man was painting his boat a brib 
liant pink, and farther on, a woman sat on deck mend' 
ing a tom sail. 

When they arrived at the elevator, there lay the 
freighter, weather-beaten and worn, but boasting a 
fresh coat of gay red paint. It was tied with the stern 
end toward the run, and although the tiller shaft cut 
the name of the boat in two, Andy could make out 
the letters, the RED BIRD. 



Andy Meets Captain Jim 


33 


“That must be the boat, Andy. Run over and see 
if you can find the man who owns it. His name was 
Cap'n Pride, wasn’t it?” 

“Let me go too, Ma,” cried Willie, starting to foh 
low Andy, who was already out of the wagon. 

“No, you sit still, son. Andy can do it.” 

Andy raced along the planked run and up the gang' 
plank to the deck of the RED BIRD. “Hello!” he 
called. “Captain Pride.” He stood uncertainly on 
the deck, but in a moment a young stocky man ap' 
peared at the cabin door. 

“Hello, son. What can I do for you?” 

Andy was warmed immediately by the man’s 
bright blue eyes and his kindly smile. “Mrs. Musk,” 
he waved in the direction of the wagon, “has a load 
of grist, pork and potatoes, which she wants to ship 
north, sir. Can you take it?” 

The captain walked along the deck to the gang' 
plank. “Come on, lad. Mebbe I can, for I’ve some 
room in the hold.” They went over to the wagon. 
“How do you do, ma’am? The boy says you have a 
load to be shipped north. How much is there to go?” 

Mrs. Musk nodded toward the wagon bed. “There 
it is. It’s a larger load than I sent last year.” 



3± 


Tow path Andy 


Captain Pride sized up the sacks in the wagon. The 
three little girls, sitting among the sacks giggled nerv' 
ously. 

“Leetle gals to be shipped, too?” asked Captain 
Pride, as he pinched Bertie’s round, pink cheek. 

“Not this time,” smiled Mrs. Musk. “They’re goin’ 
to do some tradin’ with me in town. What’ll the 
freight be?” 

“Yes, I think I can take all you have. I can tell 
you the freight when I get it loaded, but I usually 
take out the amount from the sale of produce. 
Where’s it to go?” 

Mrs. Musk began searching through her reticule 
for a piece of paper. “It goes to Defiance, Ohio. I 
hev the name of the man I sold to last year. It’s writ' 
ten down on my paper.” She rummaged a little more 
and brought out a wrinkled, folded piece of paper. 
“Here ’tis. He took all of my crops last year.” 

Captain Pride looked at the address on the paper. 
“Suits me fine, for I have to make a stop at Defiance 
anyway, and I’m goin’ through to Toledo with this 
load of ashes, so it’ll be right on my way. I better 
start loadin’ now, for I want to get away this after' 
noon.” 



Andy Meets Captain Jim 


35 


“■Very well. The boys can stay and help with the 
loadin’, while the girls and I do our trading in town.” 
Mrs. Musk and the three little girls climbed down 
from the wagon. 

“Ma, you won’t forget the bananas, will you?” 
asked Willie, who wanted very much to go with his 
mother, but who was too much of a man to express 
such a wish. 

“Yes, Willie, I’ll get the bananas, if they’s any in 
town. You and Andy step lively and help Captain 
Pride while I’m gone.” 

Mrs. Musk and the girls threaded their way past 
the elevators and warehouses, and soon disappeared 
from the plank run. 

“Come on, boys. You put the sacks on the run 
and I’ll load them on the boat. That'a-way it won’t 
take us long,” ordered the captain. 

Andy set to work eagerly, for this new task ap- 
pealed to him and he wanted to look around the boat, 
but Willie cast many backward glances toward town, 
for he wanted to be with his mother to make sure 
she bought the promised bananas. Captain Jim 
helped the boys with the heaviest sacks and stacked 
them alongside the freighter, preparatory to putting 



36 


Towpath Andy 


them on his boat. Then he turned around to Andy. 

“What’s your name, lad?’’ 

“Andy, sir. Andy Burke. And he’s Willie,” ex- 
plained Andy as he set a sack of potatoes on the run. 

At last the wagon was emptied and Captain Jim 
began stowing the sacks in the hold of the boat. 

“Could we, could we look around the boat a bit?” 
asked Andy when the last sack of grist was on the 
freighter. 

“Sure thing, lad.” Captain Jim Pride led the way 
along the deck to the stem of the boat. “Here’s my 
home,” he explained as he started down the steep 
cabin steps. 

From the stairs they entered a fair-sized room. In 
the center of it was a table on which rested an oil 
lamp. Directly in front of the door on the opposite 
wall, a long shelf was fastened, which held a comb, 
wash basin and bar of soap. Just above it was a small 
mirror, flanked by two small windows and some pegs 
for clothes. On the wall at right angles to the shelf 
were two wooden bunks, built one above the other. 
Opposite the bunks and filling most of the other wall 
was a brick fireplace, a crane and a few cooking utern 
sils. 




“Here’s my home ” he explained 








































































I 









Andy Meets Captain Jim 


39 


“Isn’t this a fine place?’’ Andy looked around the 
room admiringly. 

“It’s not very big,” murmured Willie. 

“Bigger’n our cubbyhole at the mill,” laughed 
Andy. 

“Can’t have much room for men, sonny, on a 
freighter, ’cause it’s the load that’s important. You 
get used to cramped quarters after a while. Come out 
on deck and I’ll show you how I steer the boat.” 

Captain Jim showed them the tiller shaft which 
rose stubbily above the roof of the cabin to the 
sweep. He picked up a long pole. “This pole’s to get 
us in or out of the locks. I always carry one with me.” 

“What are locks, Cap’n Jim?” 

“Ain’t you never seen a lock, Andy boy? They're 
lots of them on the old Wabash and Erie. Well, they 
are enclosures in the canal, made with wooden gates, 
which raise or lower the boats to different levels of 
water, when a boat needs to go to a higher or lower 
position in the canal.” 

“I’ve never seen the canal before, but I think I’d 
like to travel on it.” Andy looked eagerly up the 
expanse of water. “How soon are you going to leave 
Lodi?” 



4 o 


Tow path Andy 


“Just as soon now as I get a driver for my horses. 
The boy who was going to haul north with me dis- 
appointed me at the last minute and now I have to 
find another one. I’d like to get going this evening, 
now the boat’s loaded.’’ 

“A boy! Did you say a boy, sir?’’ asked Andy 
eagerly. 

“Yes. He wuz; about as old as you. Have lots of 
boy drivers on this here old canal.” 

Andy hesitated a moment and then inquired, “Do 
you suppose I would do, sir?” 

“You?” Captain Pride looked at Andy with new 
interest. Here was a likely-looking, strong lad. He 
seemed intelligent, too. “Why, I don’t know, son, 
but I don’t suppose your ma would let you go. It’s 
not an easy life, haulin’ ain’t.” 

“She’s not my ma, sir, Mrs. Musk isn’t. I — I just 
been staying with her. I—” Andy stopped, “I’m 
an orphan, Cap’n.” 

“That so? Well, now, how old are you?” 

“Going on fifteen, sir. And I’m used to hard work.” 

Andy was eager to go now, for he wanted more 
than anything else to haul with this kindly man. He 
had been with him only a short time, but he knew 



Andy Meets Captain Jim 


41 


he was going to like him. The boat wasn’t going in 
the direction of St. Louis, to be sure. But there was 
just a chance that he might learn some news of his 
father from someone on the canal. Besides, Andy 
longed for new sights and new faces, for he had been 
accustomed to traveling from place to place with his 
father and mother. 

“Do you know anything about horses?” Captain 
Pride looked at Andy doubtfully. 

Andy smiled confidently, for horses were his very 
life. “Yes, sir, I know a lot about horses, as much as 
your other boy, I’m sure. I can show you if you’ll 
only give me the chance.” 

“Well, come with me now and we’ll take a look 
at the stalls and my teams. I always carry two teams 
with me. You see while one team is on the tow 
path, the other is riding on the boat. That-a-way I 
always have a fresh team and I don’t have to depend 
on the stables along the canal to get fresh ones.” 

Captain Pride took the boys along to the pit, 
where two large black horses and two smaller bays 
were nosing the hay in the mangers. The horses fid¬ 
geted a little at the presence of strangers, but Andy 
spoke quietly to them and began brushing down 



42 


Towpath Andy 


one of the blacks. The horses became still immediate¬ 
ly and twitched their skins in enjoyment of the brush. 

“Say, Cap'n Pride, how much do you grain ’em?” 

Captain Pride concealed his surprise at the action 
of the horses, as he replied, “Guess you are good with 
horses. Say, that off horse never let any of my drivers 
rub him down that easily on first acquaintance.” 

Andy was embarrassed, but a little proud at the 
captain’s words. 

“I give each one of ’em a measure level full.” Cap¬ 
tain Pride consulted his watch and turned to Willie, 
who was standing outside of the stalls. “You boys 
must be hungry. It’s ’way after noon and I forgot all 
about eating.” 

“I am hungry, awfully hungry,” replied Willie, 
who was thinking again of the longed-for bananas. 

“I guess I’m hungry, too,” laughed Andy, who 
had been so interested in the possibilities of hauling 
with the RED BIRD that he had forgotten all about 
food, “Mrs. Musk put our lunch in the wagon, sir.” 

“Never mind looking for it now. The lunch is on 
me today, boys,” put in Captain Pride. “We’ll go 
over to the Blue Swan for dinner. Come on, let’s 
get along.” 



Andy Meets Captain Jim 


43 


The boys followed the captain down the gangplank 
and around the elevator to the Blue Swan, a small, 
cramped tavern, sandwiched in between the elevator 
and a warehouse. The tavern was empty, save for 
a few stragglers at the bar, who were loitering over 
their liquor. 

“Got anything for three hungry boys?” called 
Captain Pride, as they sat down at the first table. 

A round-faced frowsy woman appeared from a 
back room. “Oh, howdy, Cap'n Pride. That I have. 
Got some pork chops and fried potatoes left and 
I think an apple pie.” 

“Bring it on then, sister, for we’re hungry.” 

While the boys ate their dinner Captain Pride 
studied Andy Burke. He saw that he was strong and 
well-formed, with a keen, honest face and a friendly 
Irish smile. 

“Might be just the boy,” murmured Cap’n Jim. 

“Did you speak, sir?” asked Andy, looking up from 
his empty plate. 

“H’m,” replied Captain Pride, consulting his watch 
again. “Reckon your ma will soon be back now. If 
I jest had a boy, I’d be ready to start north myself.” 

When they came in sight of the wagon on the 



44 


Towpath Andy 


planked run, they saw Mrs. Musk and the little girls 
waiting for them. 

“Here you are,” cried Mrs. Musk in relief. “I 
couldn’t imagine where you’d gone.” 

“Cap’n Pride bought our lunch at the Blue Swan,” 
explained Andy. 

“Did you get the bananas?” put in Willie, who, 
although he could not eat another bite, was still in¬ 
terested in the purchase. 

“Yes, Willie, I got some.” She turned to Captain 
Pride. “I been inquiring about you in town, Cap’n. 
I always like to know something about the man who 
takes my load. Everyone said a good word for you, 
and seems to think you’re the most trustworthy man 
on the canal.” 

“Well, now that’s real nice of them, Mrs. Musk. 
I always treat folks square, same as I like to be treated. 
I can tell you about what the freight charges will be, 
but if you don’t mind, I’ll take it out of the proceeds 
when we return with the money for you.” 

“That’ll be agreeable with me. Now children, we’d 
best be startin’ home. It’s gettin’ late and we’ll have 
to hurry to reach Sugar Creek before dark.” 

The children began climbing into the wagon, save 



Andy Meets. Captain Jim 


45 


Andy, who stood hesitating on the planked run. 

“Mrs. Musk—Mrs. Musk,” he began, “I have a 
chance to haul with Cap’n Pride. To drive the horses 
on the towpath, I mean. Is it all right if I take the 
job?” 

“To haul? To walk the towpath, you mean?” 
Mrs. Musk was more than surprised. 

“Yes, ma’am. He needs a boy. I thought if it’s all 
the same to you, I’d like to go, ma’am.” 

For just a moment Mrs. Musk’s eyes showed sparks 
of anger. She turned to the captain. “You aren’t try' 
ing to take Andy away from us?” 

“Well, ma’am,” explained Captain Pride, “he asked 
to go with me, after I mentioned I wuz lookin’ for a 
new driver. Says he knows a lot about horses, and 
I believe he does.” 

“Mrs. Musk, you know I can take care of the 
horses. I’ve had lots of experience. Please, ma’am, 
I do want to haul with Cap’n Jim.” 

When Mrs. Musk saw the eager expression in 
Andy’s eyes, her anger died as suddenly as it had 
come. “Well, Andy, we can’t keep you at the mill, 
if you really want to go. But canalling is a hard life 
at best and we’ll miss you at home.” 



46 


Towpath Andy 


“I’ll watch out for him, ma’am,” put in the cap' 
tain. “I can’t pay much wages, but he’s worth ten 
dollars a month and his keep. I’ll see that no harm 
comes to him. And Jim Pride’s word is good the hull 
length of the Wabash and Erie.” 

Ten dollars! Andy’s face flushed with pleasure at 
the thought of so much money. He had never had 
ten dollars in his life. 

“I—I’ll hate to leave you, Mrs. Musk, but I want 
to be movin’ on again. Besides I might hear some 
word of my—” 

“Yes, son, you might.” Mrs. Musk sensed that 
Andy needed a change, and that he had stayed at the 
Musk Mill longer than any other place he had lived. 
“All right, Andy. If Cap’n Jim Pride will look out 
for you, I reckon I’ll let you go, but we’ll miss you 
a lot. You’ve been a big help to us.” 

“Don’t go, Andy,” put in Willie, who was sitting 
on the wagon seat. “We won’t have any more school 
if you go.” 

“Yes, Cap’n Pride, if you have any chance, you 
ought to let Andy go to school. He’s a right smart 
boy in book leamin’ as well as with horses. My hus- 
band said it was a shame the boy couldn’t be in school, 



Andy Meets Captain Jim 


47 


but we haven’t one within miles of this mill.” 

“Well, we might find a school somewheres when 
we tie up for the winter, ma’am. You see we don’t 
expect to haul much after the middle of November, 
for the canal freezes solid in these parts. I promise to 
do well by him.” 

“Very well. Be careful, Andy, and be a good boy.” 

Mrs. Musk took the boy in her arms and kissed him 
goodbye, her eyes brimming with tears. “And if I 
hear any good news I’ll try to let you know some 
way.” 

Mrs. Musk climbed into the wagon, picked up the 
reins and drove slowly along the planked run. 

“Good'bye, Andy,” called Willie. 

“Good'bye,” cried the three little girls, waving 
frantically as the wagon rounded the comer of the 
last warehouse. 











Ill 

THE TOWPATH 

“Come on, Andy. We better be movin’ now,” 
ordered Captain Jim. “I’ll show you how to get out 
the towrope.” 

With Andy’s assistance, Captain Pride ran the rope 
out to the end of the run and hooked it to the evener. 
Then he untied the bay team of horses and drove 
them out of their stalls to a point a little in advance 
of the boat. 

“All right, Andy. Tell Queen and Bess to get 
along.” 


48 



The Towpath 


49 


The captain ran back to the sweep and nosed the 
boat out into the center of the canal, swinging it in 
line with the towpath just ahead. Andy seised the 
reins, clucked to the horses, which started slowly 
forward. 

The towpath! A new life and an adventurous one 
stretched before Andy, just as the towpath beckoned 
to him, winding its way along to the northward. He 
trudged behind the horses and hummed a little tune. 
On the move again to new sights and sounds. Andy 
looked back at the boat and saw Captain Pride stand" 
ing behind the cabin, grasping the rudder sweep with 
both hands. His lips were parted in a slight smile, 
and his blue eyes were fixed on the water ahead, as 
if he, too, were looking forward to this haul to the 
north. 

The canal now wound through timber country 
and the towpath, bordered by great oaks, elms, and 
occasional beeches, was hard and firm beneath his 
feet. Now and then the overhanging vines touched 
Andy’s cheek lightly, as he marched along. As he 
walked behind the horses he studied the bay team, 
sizing it up as his father had taught him to do, when 
he had accompanied him on a buying trip. 



5° 


Towpath Andy 


Andy noticed that the horses were not well' 
matched, a bad fault in any team, and that Queen 
was a windsucker. He could tell it by the grunting 
sound which she made as she sucked in the air 
through her mouth, and by the bloated appearance 
of her abdomen. Her neck was set too low on her 
shoulders, which made her a poor horse for hauling. 
Bess was the better animal, he decided, but her hind 
legs were rather far apart, giving her a sprawling, 
awkward gait. His father would not have purchased 
such a team and Andy hoped that Captain Jim had 
not paid much for them. 

When he had been walking the towpath almost an 
hour, Andy suddenly saw a packet boat rounding 
the bend of the canal, coming toward them. He was 
not certain what to do with his horses and the tow' 
line. 

“Cap’n Jim,” he called, turning back to the RED 
BIRD, “what do I do with the towline when we 
meet the packet yonder?” 

“Upstream boats always have the right of way, 
Andy. Just hold our team steady. The other driver 
will get out of your way.” 

Even as Andy turned and glanced toward the ap' 



The Towpath 


5i 


proaching team, the oncoming driver had guided his 
horses to the outside of the towpath, and was stop' 
ping the horses. The RED BIRD passed between the 
packet and its team, the horses stepping over the 
towline and the boat passing over it in the water. 

“Hi, there, Cap’n Pride!” called the captain of the 
packet. “Got a full load? What you haulin’?” 

Captain Pride returned the packet’s salute. “Right 
smart of a load. Haulin’ ashes for Toledo delivery 
and some grist and pork. How’s business?” 

“Tolerable good. Lots of new settlers cornin’ in.” 

The passengers were clustered on the deck of the 
packet and they all waved gaily to the RED BIRD. 
As they passed each other, the packet driver cracked 
his bull whip loudly, urging his horses southward. 

“That air was well done, Andy,” commended Cap- 
tain Jim, when the line boat had disappeared from 
view. “If a boat wants to pass you, and some of ’em 
will, for the packets travel faster than us freighters, 
you do the stoppin’ and let ’em have the right of 
way.” 

Andy glowed with pride at this praise of his man- 
agement of the horses and gave his attention again 
to the towpath. 



5a 


Tow path Andy 


In a little while Captain Jim called to him, “We’re 
cornin’ to a lock now, son, so take it slow.” 

Andy saw a small, square house beside the tow' 
path and the white beams of the lock gates, gleaming 
in the late afternoon sun. Captain Pride produced a 
horn and blew a shrill blast upon it. 

“That’s to let the lock tender know we’re cornin’.” 

An old man came out of the house and moved over 
to the sluice levers, opening the gates to allow the 
RED BIRD to enter the lock. Captain Jim was steer' 
ing the boat with his long pole, so he would not 
damage the lock walls with his craft. In a short while 
they had passed safely through the lock. 

Andy was happy to have passed through his first 
lock in safety, but the horses had performed their 
task without so much as a word from him. When it 
was almost dusk they came into a town. 

“That’s Covington, son.” 

As they passed along the planked run and the 
warehouses, they saw several boats tied up for the 
night. The few loiterers on the run had a friendly 
word of greeting for the captain of the RED BIRD. 
Andy was very tired, though he would never have 
admitted it, for he had been working since the dawn. 



The Towpath 


53 


Captain Jim must have noticed that the boy’s feet 
were dragging, for just as they came to the last quay 
in Covington, he called out, 

“We’re tying up here, Andy. Pull in your rope 
and tie up the horses. We’ll grain ’em here and have 
a snack of supper ourselves.” 

Andy pulled in the rope and coiled it. Then he 
made sure that the bay team was securely tied and 
walked back to the stalls on the boat to get the 
grain for the horses. 

“Well, how goes it, Andy?” asked Captain Jim 
a little later as he and Andy rested in the cabin after 
their supper. 

“I like it, Cap’n Jim. Tomorrow I’ll do better 
along the towpath.” 

Supper over, they climbed into their bunks and 
the last sound that Andy heard was the lapping of 
the water against the sides of the boat. 

The next morning he was awakened by the clat¬ 
tering of the horses’ feet upon the deck of the RED 
BIRD. He scrambled into his clothes and up the 
cabin hatchway, to find Captain Jim just driving the 
big, black team off of the boat to change places with 
Queen and Bess. It was very damp and cool and 



54 


Towpath Andy 


a thick mist hung over the canal and muddy towpath. 

It was a typical foggy morning of late September 
and as they moved out into the country, they heard 
the early twittering of flocks of birds, and now and 
then the plop of a muskrat as it dived into the canal. 
Andy stamped his feet on the hard path. His legs 
were stiff and sore, as he was not used to such com 
tinuous walking. 

Slowly, as the mist cleared and the sun broke 
through the clouds, Andy could make out the occa' 
sional farmhouses which bordered the canal. By this 
time they had passed through the little village of Port' 
land, but very few residents were astir at this early 
hour. The boy had to set a faster pace this morning, 
for the big blacks kept up a brisk trot. King and 
Duke were a much better team and they were beam 
tifully matched. His father would have been proud 
to own such horses. After a while Andy saw they 
were approaching a town. 

“That’s Williamsport down there,’’ called Cap' 
tain Pride. “We’ll go through several towns today.” 

Andy replied that he would enjoy that, but his 
voice was broken by the morning wind. At noon 
they tied up at Independence for a little while, and 



The Towpath 


55 


changed horses, putting the blacks again in the stalls 
on the boat. 

As they were eating their dinner, Captain Jim 
looked down at Andy’s bare feet. “You’ll have to 
have a pair of boots, lad. You can’t walk the towpath 
barefooted, or you’ll have very sore feet.” 

“I had a pair of shoes at the Mill, but I didn’t 
think to wear them yesterday.” 

“I’ll buy you a pair in Lafayette, if we arrive there 
in time this afternoon. There aren’t many locks to 
take our time until we get into Wabash County, and 
I’ll take my turn on the towpath this afternoon. You 
can try my job at the sweep.” 

After dinner they began the haul again, and the 
bays, refreshed by their morning ride in the stalls, 
made better time on the path than they had the 
preceding afternoon. From his place behind the 
stalls, Andy could get a view of the Indiana country' 
side. Small, neat houses dotted the landscape on 
either side of the water. 

The canallers passed two feeders of the canal, 
which gleamed and sparkled as they wound west' 
ward. A gaily painted packet with a black and red 
underbody passed them, bound for Toledo. It had 



56 


Tow path Andy 


a white upper cabin which boasted many little win* 
dows decorated with flaming red curtains and green 
shutters. Andy could hear singing and laughter from 
within the packet, and the passengers sitting on the 
deck called out to him in friendly greeting. 

Now and then they met freighters coming down 
the canal, and here and there were shanty boats 
tied up, their mules cropping the grass lazily. On one 
of these boats Andy saw some children playing about, 
while their mother was bent over a tub, doing the 
weekly wash. What fun, he thought, to be living on 
the canal! 

“Listen, Andy!” called Captain Pride late in the 
afternoon. “Hear the horns? They’re blowin’ in 
the basin at Lafayette.” 

As they rounded a bend in the canal, they entered 
the basin which was lined with warehouses and 
docks. As far as Andy could see there were boats 
of every kind and color, some of them moving and 
shrieking their horns, while others rode at their moor' 
ings along the quay. 

“She’s quite a town, Lafayette is. Most ten thou- 
sand people here. Just look yonder at that hitch 
yard, Andy. Not a single space left to hitch a horse 




A packet passed them, hound for Toledo 















The Tow path 


59 


and it’s getting late in the day, too. There’s been a 
sight of business ever since the canal was dug.” 

Andy did not reply but his eyes were round with 
excitement. He had never seen such a crowd of 
people in all his life. 

“We’ll try to find a place to tie up for the night, 
Andy. I want to get your boots, you know.” 

As they nosed their way slowly along between the 
boats, it looked as if they would have to go on 
through the town, but at the end of the long row of 
warehouses they found a space at the last quay. 

“Unhitch the bays, Andy. I want to take them to 
be shod. There’s a good blacksmith here and Queen’ll 
be lame, if I let her walk another day without shoes. 
Same as you, son.” 

Andy looked at his swollen, aching feet and worn 
dered if he would be able to pull boots over them. 
He drew in the towline and unhitched the bay team. 
With the horses picking their way between piles of 
freight on the planked run, Andy and Captain Pride 
made slow progress back to town to the blacksmith 
shop. They left Queen and Bess to be shod and on a 
street a few blocks removed from the canal they 
found a cobbler’s shop. 



6o 


Towpath Andy 


The shop was empty, but as they entered a bell 
attached to the door tinkled loudly, bringing the 
cobbler from the back of his shop. 

“What can I do for you today?” asked the little 
old German cobbler. 

“Boots for the boy,” replied Captain Jim. 

“Boots? Yes, I have the very thing for him. He 
walks the towpath, jal He will need stout ones.” The 
cobbler took a pair of cowhide boots from a high 
shelf above the cobbler’s bench. “I think these will 
suit, ja." 

Andy gazed in mute admiration at the handsome 
boots which laced up the side and shone so that he 
could see his face in them. 

“Try them on, Andy,” suggested Captain Jim. 

Andy pulled and tugged and finally succeeded in 
getting his swollen feet into them. “They fit fine, 
Cap’n.” 

Captain Pride turned to the cobbler. “How much 
are they?” 

“Five dollars. And cheap, too, for such material 
and I made them myself.” 

Five dollars! Andy gasped. Half a month’s wages 
for a pair of boots. 



The Towpath 


61 


“Very well. I’ll take them.” Captain Pride count' 
ed out the money from his wallet. “Do you want 
to wear them, Andy?” 

Andy hesitated, for pride of possession almost over' 
came the aching of his feet, but finally he said, “I— 
I’d rather not, sir.” 

“Well, we’ll wrap them up then. You go back to 
the blacksmith’s forge and get the horses when 
they’re ready. Take ’em to the boat and I’ll be along 
presently. I want to go to the barber shop.” 

The blacksmith was just beginning to shoe Bess 
when Andy arrived at his shop. Queen stood stiffly 
on her new shoes just as Andy had done in the cob' 
bier’s shop. 

“New on the canal, ain’t you, boy?” asked the 
blacksmith. 

“Yes, sir.” 

“Like it?” 

“Oh yes, sir, I do.” 

“Well, Cap’n Pride’s a powerful fine fellow to haul 
with. Thar ain’t no better man on the hull canal. 
You're lucky to fall in with him.” 

Andy hoped the man would tell him more about 
Captain Pride, but just then another customer en- 




62 


Towpath Andy 


gaged his attention and the conversation was ended. 

It was almost dark when Andy drove the team 
along the planked run toward the RED BIRD. 
Flickering lights gleamed at intervals from the lan¬ 
terns set in posts along the run. Andy noticed that 
most of the boats had gone from the quay where 
Captain Pride’s craft was moored. Just as he passed 
the last elevator, three ragged boys came around from 
behind it. Andy paid no attention to them until the 
largest boy called out to him in a taunting voice. 

“Where’d you pick up the flea-bitten nags?” 

Andy did not reply, but continued walking behind 
the horses. The boys fell in step with him and one 
of them said, “Ain’t never seen you before. Must 
be new on the towpath. Who’d you haul with?” 

“Cap’n Pride.” Andy approached the RED BIRD 
and started to pick up the harness. 

“Huh! So that’s your old tub. I’ll bet it leaks. 
Well, if your cap’n ain’t more of a man than his pile 
of driftwood is a boat, he ain’t much.” 

Andy could feel the blood rushing to his neck and 
face, for he wanted to hit this insolent taunting boy 
full in the face. 

“Cap’n Pride’s a fine man, the finest on the canal.” 



The Towpath » 63 

Andy then tied the horses and started to walk up the 
plank to the deck to wait for Captain J im . 

The smallest of the boys tripped him and threw 
him headlong back on the run. The other boys 
laughed uproariously. 

“Awkward, ain’t you? Kind-a match your old tub. 
What you haulin’?” 

Andy picked himself up, but he was very angry 
and if the boys could have seen his face clearly, they 
would have seen a grim twist to his mouth as he 
replied, “Ashes.” 

“Humph! You better mind out or somebody’ll cut 
up your old ashbin for kindling. Them horses look 
like they belonged to some thievin’ horse trader.” 

If the boys had been baiting Andy for a fight, they 
accomplished their purpose, for suddenly he drove 
his fist straight into the tallest boy’s face. Taken 
by surprise, the boy sprawled to the ground, but as 
quickly, the other two attacked Andy, and in a jiffy 
he was the center of a three-cornered attack. He 
fought valiantly, delivering telling punches, whenever 
he could swing an arm free from the melee of bodies. 
He was no match, though, for the three boys as large 
as himself, and suddenly receiving a crushing blow 



6 4 


Tow path Andy 


on his jaw, he fell headlong into the shallow canal. 

The three urchins did not get off easily either, 
for there was a sound of pain as the three of them 
hurried away in the darkness. 

Andy pulled himself out of the water. He was 
very cold and his jaw hurt terribly. Suddenly he re- 
membered his precious new boots. He began search' 
ing for them, fearing they had dropped into the canal, 
but after a little while he found them unharmed on 
the gangplank. He went down into the cabin, dread¬ 
ing to meet Captain Jim, but the captain had not yet 
returned. He took off his wet clothes and hung them 
in front of the fire. Then he wrapped himself in a 
blanket and crept into his bunk. 

It was there that Captain Pride found him half 
an hour later. 

“Hello, Andy. Why, what’s the matter?” Cap¬ 
tain Pride poked up the fire and turned to the boy. 
“What happened?” 

“I got wet.” 

Captain Jim laughed. “Was it so dark that you fell 
off of the gangplank into the canal?” 

“Well, kind of—” 

“Andy, your eye, Andy. It’s swollen shut and 



The Towpath 


65 


your mouth’s bleeding badly. Did someone slug you?” 

“Yeah, but I slugged ’em first.” 

“You were in a fight then?” queried Captain Jim 
as he began to prepare their supper. 

“Yes, sir, and I'd ’a’ won, too, but there were 
three of them.” Then Andy related his experience. 
“But Cap’n Jim, they said your boat was an old tub, 
and that you—you couldn’t be much either.” 

Captain Pride did not reply at once but went on 
frying the chops which he had purchased in town. 
“Well, Andy,” he began at last, “the boat is an old 
tub. The boys were right. But fighting isn’t always 
the best way to settle an argument. You’re new to 
the canal. There’s a deal of fighting on it for one 
reason or another. The boys probably baited you 
for the fun of it.” 

“But the RED BIRD is a fine boat and nobody 
is going to say such things about you to me.” 

“I’m right proud of your defense, lad, but try 
laughing it off the next time instead of fighting. I 
guess it was your Irish blood which got the best of 
you. The boat isn’t much and I hope to get another 
one some day.” 

“They said Queen and Bess were old nags. Of 



66 


Towpath Andy 


course I knew they weren’t AT horses, but—they 
said you’d gotten them from some thieving horse 
trader, and nobody’s goin’ to tell me that horse 
traders are thieves.” 

“I’m afraid you’re wrong there, Andy. Horse 
traders are usually a thieving class.” 

Andy flushed even above the swelling of his in' 
jured eye. “But, sir, they aren’t. My—my father 
is a horse trader.” 

“Your father! Why I thought he was—you said 
you were an orphan.” 

“I am an orphan, Cap’n, in a way. You see my 
father didn’t come back.” 

Then Andy told Captain Pride of his life touring 
the country with his parents, of his fear of the work' 
house and the Musk’s kindness to him. “But my 
father is no thief. He’s upright and honorable.” 

Captain Jim laid the supper on the table. “Come 
and eat, lad. A little victuals under your belt will 
fix you up in no time. I don’t doubt your word, but 
horse traders as a general rule don’t have a good 
reputation. I believe your father was honest and 
maybe he’s run amuck of some thievin’ gang. I don’t 
believe a common trader could have a boy like you. 



The Towpath 


67 


We’ll keep our eyes open and our ears to the ground 
and perhaps we’ll get some news of him along the 
canal. Meanwhile you have to eat and then to bed.” 













































THE STRANGE PASSENGER 
Andy was awakened the next morning by Captain 
Jim's hand upon his shoulder. 

"Hustle out, Andy. We've lots of hauling today. 
How is your eye?" 

Andy sat up sleepily on the side of his bunk, while 
Captain Pride inspected his eye. 

"H'm. Looks better, lad. Remember to save the 
fists after this and keep your temper. Not but what 
68 
















The Strange Passenger 


69 


a fight’s the only thing sometimes, but take a right 
smart first, boy. Drive out King and Duke this mom- 
ing, for I want to make time today.” 

Andy picked up his clothes which were now thor¬ 
oughly dry. In a few minutes he was out on deck and 
hurrying to the stalls to feed the horses. It didn’t 
take long to rub them down so that their black coats 
shone in the early morning sun. The horses stepped 
briskly off the gangplank and started pulling their 
load with great energy. 

In rounding the first bend of the canal, Andy met 
a swaggering driver in a slouch hat and very high 
topboots. Andy was proud of his own new boots 
and hoped that the man would notice them, but he 
had no time to exhibit them properly, for he had to 
watch the towropes and pass over the other towline 
in safety. 

“We’ll be cornin’ to a weighlock shortly, Andy,” 
called Captain Jim, when the downstream freighter 
had disappeared. “There’s about six locks to go 
through in this county, so we may not make as good 
time as yistiddy. You see it’s two hundred and forty- 
two miles from Lafayette to Toledo. The record run 
is two days and eight hours. Of course that’s for a 



70 


Towpath Andy 


packet boat that makes about ninety miles a day. 
We got to make at least fifty today.” 

When they arrived at the weighlock they had to 
wait for a few minutes, as there were two boats ahead 
of them. The boat in the weighlock lay in an empty 
trough, on a ribbed rack. Suddenly the lock tender 
slammed a lever, the water came sucking in, and the 
boat being weighed rose to the canal level, the gates 
opened, the horses took up the slack and the boat slid 
through into the other side of the canal. 

“Next,” shouted the lock tender. 

The boat in front of the RED BIRD entered the 
trough. Captain Pride seized his pole and made ready 
to swing his boat into the lock. 

“Next.” 

The RED BIRD eased carefully into the lock. 

“Boat number and cargo?” called the tender. 

“Fifty'six. RED BIRD. Toledo. Ashes for 
Toledo. Grist, pork and potatoes for Defiance deliw 
ery,” called Captain Pride as he jumped from the 
boat to enter the lock office to pay the toll charges. 

“Scads of produce!” snorted the lock tender. 
“Mind out you don’t hit them lock walls,” he cau' 
tioned as Andy urged the horses forward. 



The Strange Passenger 


7i 


With the weighlock behind them the horses picked 
up speed and started at a brisk trot. In his new shoes, 
Andy was pushed to keep up with them. The traffic 
grew heavier as they traveled northward. 

“Look, Andy, yonder, 1 ’ called Captain Jim, point' 
ing up the canal. “Here comes the most popular 
boat on the Wabash and Erie. It’s the SILVER 
BELL . 11 

Andy gazed eagerly at the packet which was ap' 
preaching them. It was drawn by three large, gray 
mules, each wearing a tinkling silver bell. 

“Gosh ! 11 muttered Andy. 

“Look at that harness, lad. It’s real silver'mounted. 
And that boat’s the fastest on the line. There’s five 
men in the crew on that boat . 11 

“Five!” ejaculated Andy. “What do they do?” 

“You see the boat runs day and night, so they 
hev two drivers, two steersmen and a cook. Some- 
times they’s as many as sixty people on that boat.” 

“I’ll bet it costs a lot of money to ride on that boat.” 

“No, Andy, not any more than on the other 
packets, but you have to be there early in order to 
get a ticket. That boat’s sort of a pet of the line.” 

The deck of the SILVER BELL was crowded with 



7L 


Towpath Andy 


passengers. Most of them were in gay spirits, laugh¬ 
ing or singing, and Andy could hear the strains of 
a harmonica. They were all dressed in the height of 
fashion, or so it seemed to Andy, and they repre¬ 
sented the rich trade of the canal. One man among 
the passengers on deck attracted Andy’s attention 
above all the rest. He was standing near the edge of 
the deck, gesturing toward the RED BIRD with a 
half-smoked black cigar. 

The stranger wore a very tall beaver hat, which 
Andy figured must have cost a small fortune. His 
trousers were very tight and cut in the latest European 
style. Although the weather was still mild, he wore 
a stylish, long-skirted topcoat, over the top of which 
flowed a beautiful green silk cravat. Andy was much 
taken with this costume, for he had not seen such 
a dandy since the time his father had taken him to 
some harness shows in Virginia. But as his glance 
shifted to the man’s face, he was disappointed, for his 
close-set eyes looked evil and his thick jowls and 
puffy eyelids indicated dissipation. 

Andy wondered if Captain Pride had noticed this 
man among the passengers, but as he looked back, he 
saw that his captain was too engrossed in conversa- 



The Strange Passenger 


73 


tion with the captain of the SILVER BELL to notice 
any deck passengers. 

During the rest of the morning they met nothing 
unusual, but by noon they had nosed in and out of 
the basin at Delphi. 

“We’re making good time, Andy,” said Captain 
Jim, when they changed horses at noon. “I’d kind'a 
like to make Logansport tonight, but we’ll have to 
keep pushin’ right along. You take the sweep now, 
’cause I reckon your feet are a bit tired in the new 
boots.” 

Andy looked at his boots with great pride. 

“Oh they’re all right, Captain. I could walk all 
afternoon if you’d say the word.” But as Andy took 
his place on the boat he eased his feet out of them 
and set them on the cabin roof. His feet were tired 
after all. 

Along toward dusk they tied up the boat at the 
first quay in Logansport, next to one of the stables 
which kept the horses for the changes of the fast 
packet lines. It wasn’t a very favorable place to 
spend the night, but neither Andy nor his captain 
were bothered by the odor of the stable, for they were 
tired and glad to crawl into their bunks. 



74 


Towpath Andy 


The next morning they were threading their way 
through the crowded basin of the town before any 
of the other boatmen were astir. The canal wound 
through the center of the settlement, but it was de- 
serted, for it was too early for business to be under 
way. 

“We want to make Fort Wayne today, lad, so step 
old Queen and Bess as lively as you can,” ordered 
Captain Pride. 

Andy obediently urged on the horses and the bays 
stepped out at a lively trot. As they came even with 
the last warehouse, a man ran around the comer of 
it, waving and calling to them. 

“Hey there, Captain. RED BIRD. Wait a min- 
ute.” 

He bore quickly down upon them and Andy no¬ 
ticed, with surprise, that it was the same stylishly 
dressed man whom he had noticed on the deck of the 
SILVER BELL. His trousers were very dusty and 
he was quite breathless from running. Unconsciously 
Andy slackened the team, as Captain Pride called 
back: 

“What do you want?” 

“Take me with you. I missed the last packet.” 



The Strange Passenger 


75 


The man’s cravat was awry and he mopped his 
perspiring face vigorously. 

Obediently Andy brought the horses to a stand' 
still, but he noticed that Captain Jim made no move 
to take the man on board. 

“I’ve no room for passengers. This here’s a freight' 
er. Another packet’ll be along directly.’’ 

“Not for two hours anyway. I’ve got to make 
Fort Wayne today. Take me on and I’ll make it 
worth your while.’’ The man produced a roll of 
bills and offered one to Captain Jim. “Come, now, 
take me on, that’s a good fellow.” 

Grumblingly Captain Pride threw down the gang' 
plank and the stranger climbed quickly to the deck. 

“Thank you, Cap’n. Now, if your driver will lay 
on those horses, I’ll be much obliged.” 

Andy resumed his driving and they started forth 
into the open country. From time to time Andy 
glanced back at the man who was standing by Cap' 
tain Jim at the back of the cabin. He wondered what 
had brought the man back to Logansport and why 
he was so anxious to get to Fort Wayne that he 
could not wait for more comfortable quarters on 
the packet. 



7 6 


Towpath Andy 


At noon they tied up for dinner and Andy changed 
teams, bringing out the blacks to the towpath. At 
the table the stranger became more talkative. 

“ ’Spose I kind-a surprised you being about so 
early, but I couldn’t sleep in that tavern back there. 
It was noisy and filthy, too. I just missed the 
COMET before daybreak and there hadn’t been a 
packet along since.” 

Captain Jim did not reply, but Andy nodced that 
he was eyeing his guest curiously. 

“That’s a splendid pair of blacks the boy just 
brought out, Captain. We ought to make better 
time after lunch with them hauling, oughtn’t we?” 

“Yes, they are better than my bays,” admitted the 
captain. 

“I noticed that smaller mare was a windsucker. 
That’s bad for hauling. I know where you can get 
a better team in Logansport, cheap, too. The fellow 
who owns them wants to sell pretty bad. Needs 
the money, so he’ll let the team go cheap. Would 
you be interested?” 

“No,” returned Captain Pride. 

When the captain took his turn on the towpath 
the man began talking to Andy. 






The man began talking to Andy 


































































» 




The Strange Passenger 


79 


“I see you know a lot about horses, boy. You 
managed that team well this morning.” 

Andy glowed with pride. “Thank you, sir. I like 
horses.” 

“You—you wouldn’t be looking for a better job, 
would you?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Not a haulin’ job, but work with horses. I need 
a smart boy like you. I—well. I’m a buyer along the 
canal, deal in horses, and I could use a boy that knows 
horses.” 

For some unaccountable reason Andy resented 
this offer, resented its being made behind Captain 
Jim’s back, but he tried not to show it. 

“I, I don’t think so, sir. You see I hired out to 
Captain Pride for the rest of the season and want to 
keep my word. Are you a horse trader?” 

“Well, not exactly. I buy horses, but I’m not a 
common trader. My business is bigger than that. 
Well, what’s your word to the captain of this tub, if 
you can better yourself? How much do you get for 
drivin’? Not more than ten dollars, I’ll warrant.” 

“Ten dollars and my keep. But I’m satisfied.” 

“How would twenty dollars sound to you?” 



8o 


Towpath Andy 


Andy whistled softly. Twenty dollars! It was an 
amazing amount. He glanced toward Captain Jim 
who was plodding along ahead of the boat, urging 
the horses to their topmost speed. Then he turned 
to his strange companion. 

“No, I don’t want the job. Cap’n Jim needs me 
here.” 

“Well boy, you’ll learn you have to look out for 
yourself in this world. It’s an opportunity. Better 
think it over.” 

“I’m content,” returned Andy. “You say you deal 
in horses, have you ever met Matthew Burke?” 

“Matthew Burke? Why he—no, I’ve never met 
him. Must not have been much of a trader,” snapped 
the man. 

“Oh, but he was, sir. He traded in fine horses, 
thoroughbred race horses, I mean.” 

The stranger glanced quickly at Andy and spoke 
in a sharp tone, “Look here, boy, where did you 
know Matthew Burke?” 

Something in the man’s voice made Andy feel 
cautious. “Well, it was somewhere in Indiana. I 
don’t know exactly.” 

The man started chewing on one of his long black 



The Strange Passenger 


81 


cigars and stared at the landscape. “Say, do you 
know where we are along this canal? Anywhere 
near Fort Wayne?” 

“I don’t know, sir. I’ll ask Cap’n Jim.” 

“No, don’t bother.” 

In the late afternoon they changed horses and tasks 
after passing through Huntington. Andy was glad 
to take his place on the towpath, for since mention' 
ing his father, he noticed the stranger maintained a 
grumpy silence, and had retired to the cabin. 

“I don’t believe we can make Fort Wayne tonight, 
Andy,” said Captain Jim as he stepped upon the 
deck of the RED BIRD. 

“What’s that?” called their guest, as he thrust his 
head out of the cabin door. “Not make Fort Wayne 
tonight?” 

“I’m afraid not. I’ve pushed the horses hard all 
afternoon, but we freighters can’t fly, you know.” 

“But I paid you to get me to Fort Wayne. I’ve 
got to make it.” 

“Yes sir, you did, but I told you to wait for a 
packet. They change horses oftener and they’re built 
for more speed. We’ll get you as close as we can, 
but I’m not going to take this boat in the aqueduct 



82 


Towpath Andy 


down there after night. It ain’t safe without lights.” 

The man uttered a string of oaths the like of which 
Andy had never heard. “I might as well walk as 
ride on this tub,” he said. 

“You’re welcome to walk, sir,” replied Captain 
Pride goodmaturedly. “Just follow the towpath and 
you can’t miss it.” 

Andy covered his mouth to hide a smile at Cap- 
tain Jim’s buffoonery. 

The horse dealer did not reply but turned sourly 
and retreated into the cabin. 

“Andy, lay on the horses and we’ll haul until after 
dark and then tie up some place this side of Fort 
Wayne.” 

“All right, Cap’n Jim.” 

Andy walked along deep in thought while he 
urged the team to greater speed. He felt more com' 
fortable out on the towpath with the horses than on 
the boat with the cross stranger. Why had this man 
offered him such an unheard of sum as twenty dob 
lars? Why didn't he ride in a packet as he had done 
yesterday? And what did he know about Matthew 
Burke? Andy was convinced that he did know about 
his father, for he had started to talk about him and 



The Strange Passenger 


83 


then suddenly changed his mind. Could his father 
have suffered some misfortune because of this man? 
Andy hadn’t liked the stranger’s appearance for all 
his fine clothes, and now the boy was definitely com¬ 
mitted against him. 

It grew very dark and Andy could scarcely see 
the towpath ahead. Unconsciously he slackened the 
speed of the horses. Still Captain Jim did not give 
the order to tie up for the night. The boy was very 
tired and his feet ached in his new boots. How far 
was Fort Wayne? He was hungry too, when he 
realized he had eaten no supper. After a while the 
moon rose and its beams filtering through the trees, 
lighted the towpath a little. 

“Andy, we’re tying up here,’’ called Captain Jim 
after they had rounded a small bend in the canal. 

Andy quickly tied the horses to some projecting 
roots and drew in the tow line. Then he made his 
way to the stalls, and with the aid of a flickering lan¬ 
tern, measured out enough grain for the teams. This 
done, he went to the cabin where Captain Pride was 
already laying out their supper. The stranger was 
sitting on a chair with his head drooped forward in 
his hands. 



84 


Towpath Andy 


“How far are we from Fort Wayne, now?” he 
asked. 

“Not so far,” replied Captain Jim cheerfully. 
“We’ll be there early in the morning.” 

“But how far?” insisted the man. 

“Well as near as I can figure, it must be about ten 
miles.” 

“Why didn’t you say so? This is where I’ll get 
off.” The man bounded up from the chair and started 
up the cabin steps. 

“Better stay the night with us. We can put you 
up. You may get lost trying to make it tonight and 
besides you paid me to get you to Fort Wayne. Andy 
can sleep in the stalls, can’t you, Andy?” 

“Yes sir.” 

“I told you I had to make the town tonight,” re' 
plied the horse dealer. “I’m off and I’ll make it all 
right. I know the country around here fairly well.” 
The stranger was on the deck and running down the 
gang plank before Captain Pride could reply. 

Andy followed him and saw him disappearing on 
the towpath toward Fort Wayne. 

“What do you make of him, Cap’n Jim?” asked 
Andy when he returned to the cabin. 



The Strange Passenger 


85 


“I don't know, son, but he's up to no good. He’s 
had the jumpin’ jitters for the last hour in here. 
Kept cornin' up the steps and askin' where we wuz. 
I had a notion to tell him on the Wabash and Erie 
Canal. I don't like his looks nor his kind." 

“I don't either," said Andy, but he did not men¬ 
tion the man's offer of work nor his peculiar actions 
when Matthew Burke was mentioned. 






















TOLEDO HAUL 

“Andy, we have an aqueduct to cross this mom' 
ing, but you won’t have no trouble at all with it. 
Take Duke and King out to the towpath. They 
never shy at anything.” 

“What is an aqueduct, Captain Jim?” 

“Well there’s one built across the St. Mary’s River 
at Fort Wayne. It looks like a covered bridge, only 
instead of having a floor in the center, the canal runs 
through it, or rather it’s a part of the river. The 
86 































Toledo Haul 


87 


towpath is built of wood on the side and looks like 
a wide sidewalk. There’s no danger in crossing it, 
unless the horses get frightened by the wooden sid' 
ing and plunge into the water. Sometimes the wooden 
floor rots out pretty fast and horses have been known 
to plunge through the wooden towpath. This aque- 
duct is safe though, ’cause I wus over it not three 
weeks ago.” 

“Do we pay a toll for it?” 

“Not for this one across St. Mary’s, but it costs 
the company a powerful sight to keep the aqueducts 
in repair. Repairin’ the canal, the bridges and such, 
purty nigh eats up all the profits. There’ll be several 
bridges to dodge too, but you just have to duck if 
you are standin’ behind the cabin.” 

After about two hours of walking along the 
wooded towpath, they came in sight of Fort Wayne. 
Andy saw what must be the aqueduct, for it looked 
like the covered bridge which he had crossed with 
Mrs. Musk on the way to Lodi. He tightened his 
hold on the reins and went bravely forward to take 
the horses safely through the aqueduct. 

“There ain’t no boys swimmin’ today,” said Cap' 
tain Jim as they came to the entrance. “Last time I 



Tow path Andy 


come through, you could hardly get along for dodgin’ 
the swimmers. The towpath makes a fine diving plat' 
form. Careful, son. The horses know what to do.” 

The horses stepped firmly upon the raised wooden 
towpath and trotted along peaceably enough, but 
Andy walked a bit fearfully, for he did not want to 
fail in this new test of his ability to haul with Captain 
Pride. The captain was steering the boat expertly, 
so it would not bump the wooden siding of the 
aqueduct. 

In a few minutes they were safely across St. Mary’s 
River and rounded the bend in the canal, approach' 
ing the west end of the town. With the Empire Mill 
behind them they found themselves in the midst of 
many boats. 

In the large space between the canal and the build' 
ings which fronted on Columbia Street was a large 
area which Captain Jim called the "Dock.” Here the 
boats were discharging freight and taking on new 
loads. Andy saw that Fort Wayne was even larger 
than Lafayette and the streets were as crowded as 
the dock. 

They made their way along between the boats 
which were already tied up and those which were 



Toledo Haul 


searching for a place to unload. The odor of sizzling 
bacon and hot bread, mixed with the appetizing 
flavor of coffee coming from the eating houses on the 
other side of the canal, made Andy’s mouth water, 
even though he had eaten his breakfast only about 
two hours previously. 

“We’ll tie up along here, Andy, and get ourselves 
a real breakfast. I’m kind'a tired eatin’ my own cook' 
ing. It doesn’t smell as savory as the food does here.” 

They found a vacant place near the east end of the 
town and then made their way to a tavern on the 
first street back from the planked run. The tavern 
was crowded and Andy looked closely at the men 
there to see if he could see their strange passenger of 
the day before, but he was not in the crowd gath' 
ered there. 

After a breakfast of potatoes, eggs, fresh bread, 
and coffee, they started back to the RED BIRD, but 
before they reached it, they saw a gaily painted craft 
nosing its way into town. 

“Look, Captain Jim. Look at that boat.” 

“Why Andy, that’s the LAUGHING LOU. She’s 
the circus boat, and I’ll warrant there’s going to be a 
performance here this afternoon.” 



9 o 


Tow path Andy 


“A circus boat! Do they have circuses on the 
canal?” 

“Yes indeed, boy. There isn’t much of anything 
that the old Wabash and Erie doesn’t support. 
Haven’t you ever seen a circus?” 

“Yes, I have. One time I went with my father and 
mother, but I don’t remember much about it, for I 
was just a little boy.” 

“Well haul or no haul, we’ll have to stay over and 
see the show. I kind-a like a circus myself.” 

Then Captain Pride and Andy joined the throng 
which was now swarming down on the run to weh 
come the LAUGHING LOU. This circus boat be' 
longed to Dr. Quackenbush, who was known the 
length of the Wabash and Erie for his famous medi' 
cine, the “Quackenbush Elixir,” a cure'all for every 
ailment; and his equally famous circus troupe which 
gave performances of great daring all along the canal. 

As soon as the boat was tied up, Dr. Quackenbush, 
wearing a long frock coat and a bushy beard, appeared 
from his cabin carrying a large satchel and a small 
table. He was followed by a circus clown who de' 
lighted the crowd with acrobatic stunts, while the 
doctor set up his table on the planked run and an 



Toledo Haul 


9£ 


ranged the bottles of his famous Elixir for display. 
After the clown had turned cartwheels and somen 
saults and had given candy to the children, Dr. 
Quackenbush began selling his medicine and disposed 
of a goodly number of bottles. 

The first performance of the circus troupe was 
scheduled for eleven o’clock, but long before that 
hour, the LAUGHING LOU was crowded with 
spectators, all hungry to see the sword swallower, the 
bearded lady and the wonderful trick horse. Captain 
Pride and Andy were fortunate enough to secure a 
front seat for the show. 

The first act was offered by an acrobatic troupe, 
led by the clown, who did wonderful feats on ladders 
and tight ropes. The sword swallower was a mystery 
to Andy, for he couldn’t quite figure how this man 
was able to swallow such a long sword. The crown' 
ing act of the entire show was the amazing perform' 
ance of the equestrian and his educated horse. After 
Andy had watched the man balance himself on his 
head while the horse trotted in a circle and jumped 
through a burning hoop, he turned to Captain Jim. 

“Captain Jim, I know that horse. I am sure he is 
the Ted that father had for a few weeks, two years 



92 


Tow path Andy 


ago. The horse knows a lot of tricks, too, for I re" 
member how much fun my father used to have put" 
ting him through his paces.” 

"Are you sure he’s the same horse, lad?” 

Andy stared at the horse again, as it was leaving 
the ring. 

"Yes sir, I’m sure of it.” 

"Then we’ll stay for a few minutes after the show 
and talk to Dr. Quackenbush.” 

When the performance was concluded and the 
crowd had dispersed after buying more of the medi" 
cine, Captain Pride and Andy loitered on the deck. 

"What can I do for you, my man?” asked Dr. 
Quackenbush. "Wouldn’t you like a bottle of my 
famous Elixir, only a dollar for the large size?” 

"No, Doctor, I wanted to know about your trick 
horse Ted. Where did you buy him?” 

"There isn’t another horse in the country like him 
and he isn’t for sale. I purchased him in the East.” 

"Possibly from Matthew Burke?” 

The doctor seemed surprised. "Well yes, I did, 
but how did you know?” 

Captain Pride turned toward Andy. "This is his 
boy, Andy Burke. The lad recognized the horse.” 



Toledo Haul 


93 


“Well, well. To tell the truth I’m a bit disap' 
pointed in the horse. Burke guaranteed the animal 
to be well'trained, but we haven’t been able to do 
much with him.” 

“But he is, sir. Father used to make him do a 
great many tricks?” 

“What’s that you say? Do you know how to put 
him through his paces?” 

“I—I think I can. I’ll be glad to try.” 

“You shall have the opportunity, my boy. I’ve 
been wanting to meet up with Matthew Burke. I 
didn’t think he’d misrepresent the animal, for I’ve 
always found him honest in his dealings. I’ll have 
the horse brought up from his stall.” 

When the horse was again in the ring, Andy 
walked over to him and patted him gently for a few 
minutes. Then he swung lightly to his back, and 
touched him on the forelegs. The horse jumped and 
reared in a nervous fashion, but Andy kept on pat' 
ting him and touched his forelegs again. 

“Say your prayers, Ted, old boy,” coaxed Andy. 

The horse then dropped to his knees and remained 
in this position until Andy touched him with the 
whip. 



9i 


Tow path Andy 


“Now Ted, you’ll do your dance, won’t you?” 

Andy began to flick the whip very lightly across 
the horse’s back and Ted started a slow waltz. 

“Bravo! Bravo!” cried Dr. Quackenbush, clapping 
his hands heartily. “It’s funny, lad, for I tried to 
make him do those tricks, but he wouldn’t move.” 

Captain Pride did not say a word, but he gazed 
at the horse and its rider with great satisfaction. 
Andy Burke was a true son of a man who knew 
horses thoroughly. 

Andy jumped lightly from Ted’s back, still holding 
the bridle. He walked up to his head and as he 
touched him lightly behind his ears, he coaxed, “Now 
Ted, lie down and go to sleep.” 

The great horse immediately rolled over twice and 
then lay very still with his eyes closed, nor did he 
move until Andy gave him the signal. 

When Andy had finished putting Ted through his 
act, Dr. Quackenbush smiled broadly. 

“Boy, that was a great performance and now I can 
really advertise the animal as an educated horse. I 
can see that you know a great deal about horses. As 
a special gift from me I am going to present you with 
a bottle of my famous Elixir.” 




The horse jumped and reared 
















Toledo Haul 


97 


“Thank you, sir. I’m glad I could help you.” 

By mid-afternoon they were again on the towpath 
bound for Defiance where Mrs. Musk’s produce was 
to be delivered. Andy noticed that the canal wid¬ 
ened considerably after leaving Fort Wayne. He 
judged that it was deeper too. As he trudged along 
the hard path he realized that this was no easy job, 
really much harder work than he had done at the 
Musk Mill, but more interesting too, for there was a 
constant change of scene and new people to be met 
along the way. 

For two days they traveled as rapidly as possible, 
stopping only to change horses and to snatch hasty 
meals, but on the third morning they arrived in 
Defiance. 

“Andy, you’ve a business deal on today,” said 
Captain Jim when they had breakfasted and grained 
the horses. “Mrs. Musk gave me charge of her pro¬ 
duce, but you’re going to manage the delivery.” 

“Do you think I can do it, sir?” 

“Sure thing. I’ll find out how good you are in 
arithmetic,” chuckled Captain Pride. “First we’ll 
have to locate Mr. Best.” The captain fumbled in 
an old wallet for the paper which Mrs. Musk had 



98 


Towpath Andy 


given him at Lodi. “Here it is. John Best, 18 Rum- 
sey Street. That ought to be about three streets over 
from the run.” 

Andy was not long in finding Mr. Best. 

“Yes sir, Mrs. Musk shipped me her crops last 
year,” said Mr. Best, when Andy asked him about 
delivering his load. “Where’s your boat, lad?” 

“She’s tied up at post number seventeen.” 

“Seventeen, you say? I’ll send a team and wagon 
down and you can load it. It’ll be there in a few 
minutes.” 

Andy hurried back to the RED BIRD and with 
Captain Pride’s help began carrying the sacks of grist 
and pork from the hold to the run. Before they had 
finished, Mr. Best appeared with his wagon. 

“How much do I owe you?” asked Mr. Best when 
the last sack was deposited in his wagon. 

Andy figured for a few minutes and then handed 
Mr. Best the bill. The merchant checked it carefully, 
then took out his pocket book and counted out the 
money very slowly into Andy’s hand. 

“That’s exactly what I make it, lad. You’re right 
smart at figures. Wish I had a boy like you to help 
around my place.” 



Toledo Haul 


99 


“I don’t know where to put this money so’s I 
won’t lose it,” said Andy turning to Captain Jim. 

“Haven’t you a wallet, Andy?” 

“No sir.” 

“We’ll fix that,” put in Mr. Best. “You come along 
with me to my store and you shall have a new wallet. 
A boy needs a pocketbook if he’s goin’ to carry 
money.” 

Andy rode back in the wagon to the store where 
Mr. Best presented him with a shiny new wallet. 
“That’s to remember me by, Andy.” 

“Thank you, sir. This is my first pocketbook.” 

“It will be up to you to earn enough to fill it. 
Been haulin’ on the canal long?” 

“No sir, this is my first trip, for you see I lived 
with the Musks.” 

“Good luck and mind you don’t lose the money 
or you’ll have to use your wages to pay Mrs. Musk.” 

When Andy returned to the RED BIRD, Captain 
Pride was ready to begin the last long haul to Toledo. 

“Better pay me the freight charges now, Andy, 
and you’ll have the business transacted, except for 
paying Mrs. Musk. You figure out how much you 


owe me. 



100 


Tow path Andy 


Andy sat down on the run and worked over the 
price of the haul according to its weight. Finally he 
said, “Here’s your share, sir.” As he counted it out, 
he looked inquiringly at the captain. “Is that what 
you make it?” 

“Just exactly. You air good at figures. From now 
on you can take care of the figurin’ end of this haulin’, 
for I never wus good at arithmetic.” 

When Andy had stowed his wallet safely away 
he took up the reins and went trudging along the 
towpath again. The horses set a better pace, for 
their load was lightened considerably. 

At last about noon of the next day they reached 
Toledo, the goal of their long haul. It did not take 
Captain Pride long to dispose of his forty barrels of 
ashes, but he was forced to spend some time looking 
for a return load. 

“What do you want to haul, Captain Jim?” asked 
Andy as he walked along the main street at the cap' 
tain’s side. 

“Anything I can get, lad. Can’t be choosy when 
you have an old tub like mine.” 

They spent the better part of two days trying to 
find a load for the RED BIRD. Everyone along the 



Toledo Haul 


IOI 


dock seemed to know Captain Pride, and favorably 
too, but all the loads seemed to have been contracted 
for at each warehouse. Finally when it looked as if 
they would have to make the return trip with an 
empty hold, Captain Pride found a load of stoves 
which he could haul. 

Early the next morning Andy grained and watered 
the horses, choosing the blacks for the beginning of 
the return trip. He inspected the towline carefully 
for possible breaks. After he had satisfied himself 
that there were no weak places in the line, he drove 
the horses along the run to the warehouse where the 
stoves were waiting. It took the rest of the morning 
to load them, so it was noontime before they were 
ready to begin the long trudge back to Indiana. 

“We’ll try to make a record trip, Andy, for it 
won't be long now until bad weather sets in, and 
we’ll have to hole in for the winter,” said Captain 
Jim as he steered the boat away from the quay out 
into the canal. 

“I’ll do my best, sir. The blacks pull as if the 
load’s heavy.” 

As they passed the last warehouse and neared the 
end of the run, two women ran out from one of the 



102 


Tow path Andy 


restaurants, waving and calling to them. At first 
Captain Pride paid them no heed, but the older 
woman waved her umbrella frantically at them. 

“Captain. Captain Pride. RED BIRD. Stop, 
please. Take us with you. 1 ’ 

“Now how do they know me? 11 muttered Captain 
Jim. “I never laid eyes on them before.” 

Andy didn't know whether it was the threatening 
umbrella or the pretty, anxious face of the young girl 
who trailed behind the older woman, which caused 
Captain Jim to signal him to stop the horses. As 
they drew up alongside, Andy saw that the younger 
was a very pretty girl, not many years older than 
he. The other woman was tall, angular and much 
older, and reminded him somehow of Mrs. Musk. 

Captain Jim doffed his hat politely. “You were 
calling Captain Pride, ma’am?” 

“Yes sir. You see we’re in a terrible predicament. 
We missed the packet. You’re going to Indiana, 
aren’t you?” 

“Yes ma’am, as far south as Lodi.” 

“That’s beyond Logansport, isn’t it?” 

“Yes ma’am.” 

“I’m Miss Mattie Henderson and this young lady 



Toledo Haul 


103 


is Molly Bradley. I’m to teach in Logansport and 
Miss Bradley is to take a school near there. Can’t 
you take us with you? You see if we don’t get 
started today, we’ll be late for the opening of school.” 

Schoolmarms! Captain Pride scratched his head 
thoughtfully. “I’d like to accommodate you, ma’am, 
but you see this is a freight boat and I don’t carry 
passengers.” 

“I know that,” interrupted Miss Henderson im- 
patiently, “but yours is the only boat we’ve seen to- 
day hauling west. I inquired about you and the res¬ 
taurant keeper said you were an upstanding trust¬ 
worthy man. He said we could depend on you.” 

Captain Jim blushed at her praise and the young 
lady flashed him a shy little smile. “But I have no 
place for ladies, ma’am.” 

“We can stay any place, sir. We won’t be par¬ 
ticular,” put in Miss Henderson. 

“Well, if you’re willing to take what we have, I 
guess I can take you.” 

“Thank you so much. I knew you’d help us, for 
we can’t stay here on the run. I’m glad to pay you 
the regular packet fare. Let’s see, it’s eight dollars 
to Logansport, isn’t it?” 



Tow path Andy 


104 

“No, it’s six dollars, but I can't charge regular 
packet fare for a freight boat." 

“It's a favor to us, so we'll be glad to pay it, won't 
we, Molly?" 

“Yes, sir." 

“Wait just a minute, please. We left our carpet 
bags in the restaurant." The two women hurried 
back to get their luggage. 

Captain Pride put down the gangplank, muttering 
to himself all the while. “We'll not make any time 
now, with two females on board. Andy, tie up the 
horses and get our belongings out of the cabin. It's 
the stalls for us as far as Logansport." 








ON TO LOGANSPORT 

When Captain Jim led the ladies down the steep 
steps to the cabin. Miss Henderson looked about in 
pleased surprise. 

“Why Captain Pride, this is a much better cabin 
than we had on the lake boat. You see it was so 
crowded that we had to sleep in the ladies’ salon 
with ten other women. We couldn’t step without 
falling over some one.” She put her carpet bag under 


105 
















io6 


Towpath Andy 


the lower bunk and turned to Miss Bradley. “Isn’t 
it nice here, Molly?” 

“Yes indeed, but we’re crowding Captain Pride, 
I’m afraid.” 

“Not at all, ma’am. Andy and I’ll bunk with the 
horses.” 

“The horses! Then we are taking your places.” 

“It’s all right, ma’am. I’ve slept in worse beds and 
with worse companions. You just get settled and 
we’ll be shoving off now.” 

Captain Jim returned to his position on the deck 
and ordered Andy to let out the tow line and start 
their trek toward Indiana. It was a beautiful day, 
and as they came into the timbered country, Andy 
was surprised to see how much the leaves had turned 
just in the two days they had spent in Toledo. The 
beautiful red oak and yellow maple branches 
stretched out in glorious colors in front of him. Now 
and then a few leaves drifted quietly down into the 
canal, making a variegated carpet just ahead of the 
boat. 

Andy whistled merrily as he trudged along think' 
ing of their strange new freight. He turned to the 
boat now and then and after a while saw that the 



On to Logansport 


107 


young lady had come up on deck and was talking 
to Captain Jim. A school teacher. Such a one his 
mother had probably been. He wondered if his 
mother had looked as young when she taught her 
first school. Toward evening as the wind began to 
blow chill, the young lady disappeared into the cabin, 
and Andy noticed that Captain Jim was singing softly 
as his gaze swept the horizon in front of him. 

Finally he called to Andy to tie up for the night. 
Just as Andy drove the horses on to the boat, Miss 
Henderson came up on deck. 

“Aren’t you two hungry? We have supper wait¬ 
ing and it’s getting late.’’ 

Indeed the appetizing odor of chops and coffee 
came to them from the open door. 

“That we are, ma’am,’’ replied Captain Jim, sniff¬ 
ing hungrily. “It’s a rare treat for us to have a taste 
of women’s cooking on our boat and it won’t go 
amiss.” 

When Andy fed the horses, he drove Queen and 
Bess out of the stalls to the towpath, where he tied 
them up for the night, for there was not room for 
four horses and two men in the stalls. 

Upon entering the cabin Andy found that he too 



io8 


Towpath Andy 


was very hungry, for something which Miss Molly 
was taking from a steaming kettle smelled exceed' 
ingly good. 

“Sit here, boy,” said Miss Henderson, pointing 
to one of the bunks. She and Captain Pride were 
occupying the only chairs which the cabin boasted. 
“By the way, what is your name?” 

“Andy, ma’am. Andy Burke.” 

“Andrew. That’s a good name for a boy. It tells 
me that you are Irish too, but I guessed as much 
from your blue eyes and pleasant smile.” 

“Apple dumplings!” cried Andy, as Miss Molly 
placed a big one in front of him. “I haven’t tasted 
dumplings for a long time. My mother used to make 
such good ones.” 

“Yes, Andy, apple dumplings,” smiled Molly 
Bradley. “You see we had a bag of apples and I 
hunted around and found some sugar and flour among 
your staples. I hope you like them.” 

“You’ll find this cooking better than mine, Andy,” 
laughed Captain Jim, as he took a second help ing 
of fried potatoes. “You know I’m glad the ladies 
missed their packet. It’s good to eat victuals that 
some one else has cooked.” 



On to Logansport 


109 


“Perhaps we won’t inconvenience you so much 
then,” suggested Molly. 

“Not at all, ma’am.” 

“How soon do we reach Logansport?” 

“Well let’s see, Miss Henderson. It’s about two 
days and a half to Fort Wayne and a day and a half 
from there to Logansport. You’ll be here nigh on 
to four days.” 

“We’ll be in plenty of time, Molly.” Miss Hender- 
son sighed happily. “And we’re much more com¬ 
fortable here than in any packet.” 

Their supper finished, Captain Jim and Andy 
went together to the stalls and curling up in the hay 
alongside of the black team, fell asleep. 

The next morning Captain Pride took his turn 
on the towpath and Andy stood behind the cabin 
at the evener. The women tidied up the cabin after 
breakfast and then came up on deck to sit. 

“Where do you live when the hauling stops, 
Andy?” asked Miss Henderson. 

“Well, I—that is—I don’t know, ma’am. Last 
year I lived at the Musk Mill on Sugar Creek, but 
Captain Jim will decide what I’ll do this year.” 

“When does the hauling stop, Andy?” 



no 


Towpath Andy 


'■''I don’t know, Miss Bradley. It all depends on the 
weather. When a heavy freeze comes, all hauling 
stops.” 

Andy felt panic-stricken for a moment. Where 
would he spend the winter? What if Captain Pride 
would not need him? He had not thought of the 
time when hauling would cease. Rather he had lived 
each day in contentment, for he had learned to adore 
and trust Captain Jim. But he still hoped for good 
news concerning his father. 

“You’ll be entering school late then,” put in Miss 
Henderson. 

“School? Oh ma’am, I’ve never been to school.” 

“Never been to school!” ejaculated Miss Hender¬ 
son. “Then you can neither read nor write? What 
a pity?” 

“Oh, yes, Miss, I can read. I’ve read several books. 
I can write and figure some.” 

“But how, where did you learn?” 

“Why, my mother taught me. You see she used 
to be a teacher before she was married.” Before Andy 
realized it, he had poured out the story of his parents 
to his sympathetic listeners. 

“Andy, would you like to see some of my books?” 



On to Logansport 


m 


“Yes, Miss Molly, I would. Last year I kept a sort 
of school for the little Musk children.” 

The women stayed on deck until nearly noon and 
when Andy took his turn on the towpath they went 
down into the cabin. As Andy trudged along, he 
decided he liked their passengers, especially Miss 
Molly. But he stood a little in awe of forbidding 
Miss Henderson. 

Thus the four days of travel to Logansport passed 
all too quickly for Andy and Captain Jim. As they 
made their way slowly along the basin at Logansport, 
the two ladies stood on deck, anxiously scanning the 
crowd on the run. 

“Uncle Mark Bradley was to meet me here,” ex- 
plained Molly as she looked all along the dock for 
him. “He lives about ten miles from town.” 

“We’ll find him if he’s here,” promised Captain 
Jim as he put out the gangplank at a quay near the 
center of the town. “Andy, tie up the horses and 
then you can look around a bit while I help Miss 
Bradley find her uncle.” 

The two women preceded Captain Pride down the 
gangplank to the run and entered the first warehouse 
to inquire after Mark Bradley. Andy tied up the 



112 


Tow path Andy 


horses and started to stroll along the run to the main 
street to have a look at the shops. He made his way 
carefully past the barrels and boxes which were piled 
on the run. When he reached the first street, he 
stopped to look in at a furniture shop. On one side 
of the store were rows of bureaus, chairs and bed' 
steads, and on the other was a cobbler’s bench. An 
old man was bent low over his work, holding a boot 
in his hand. 

As Andy walked on he saw a general store which 
had a fine display of cutlery in the window. He was 
particularly attracted to some knives there and 
wished that he had the price of one of them. Just as 
he started to turn back toward the RED BIRD, he 
saw a wooden Indian in front of a tobacconist’s shop. 
It was a very lifelike Indian, so Andy walked over to 
examine it. He turned it around and saw that it was 
fastened to a post with a long rope. 

“Hey there, boy! You let my Indian alone,’’ cried 
the small Jewish proprietor, as he ran to the door 
of his shop. 

“I was just looking at it, sir,” replied Andy, startled 
by the harsh voice. 

“All you boys think you have to throw my Indian 




It was a very lifelike Indian 





































































* 






% 




/ 




9 







On to Logansport 


111 

into the canal. It’s a fine joke, bah! That’s why I 
have it tied to my post with the rope.” 

Another man, evidently a customer, now strolled 
to the door of the shop. 

“Why good morning, boy.” 

Andy glanced at this newcomer and recognized 
him as the strange passenger whom they had hauled 
toward Fort Wayne. 

“Oh! How do you do, sir?” 

“This boy won’t bother your Indian, Levi,” ex¬ 
plained the stranger. “He’s a driver for the RED 
BIRD. You are still in the hauling business, aren’t 
you, lad?” 

“Yes, sir. I must be going back too, for Captain 
Jim will be looking for me.” 

Andy started to walk in the direction of the boat, 
when the stranger fell in step beside him. He smiled 
affably as he said, 

“You mustn’t mind Levi, son. He’s mighty fond 
of that Indian, for he brought it from New York 
when he set up his shop, and all the boys hereabouts 
like to tease him by throwing it into the canal.” 

“Thank you, sir, for speaking up for me. I didn’t 
know why he was angry.” 



ii 6 


Towpath Andy 


They were approaching the RED BIRD now and 
Andy saw that Captain Pride and Miss Molly were 
standing on the deck. 

“I see you still have that handsome black team.” 
The man gestured toward the horses. “Mighty fine 
animals, those. Would your captain care to sell 
them?” 

“I don’t know sir, but I don’t believe he would. 
He sets a great store by that team. I’ll run on deck 
and ask him though, if you like.” 

“Don’t bother. They’re well kept and they ought 
to bring a good price in any market. You aren’t 
looking for another job are you? Say that place I 
offered you.” 

“No sir. I’m not. I’m satisfied with the boat and 
Captain Jim.” 

“What are you going to do this winter? Hauling 
will soon stop on the Wabash and Erie, you know.” 

“I’m not sure, sir, but Captain Jim hasn’t said he 
won’t need me.” 

“H’mn. Well I made you a good offer and a fel¬ 
low has to look out for himself in this world,” said 
the man as he moved down the run and mingled with 
the crowd. 



On to Logansport 


117 

Although the stranger had spoken in his behalf, 
Andy again experienced the same feeling of antipa- 
thy and distrust for this man that he had felt on the 
former hauling trip. He hurried up to the deck of 
the RED BIRD where Captain Jim stood waiting. 

“Oh, here you are, Andy. We must be off now.” 

“Yes sir,’’ replied Andy, wondering why Miss 
Bradley was still with them. 

“We couldn’t find Mark Bradley, but I found out 
where he lives. His farm borders the canal, about 
eight or nine miles south of here. When he didn’t 
find his niece on the packet, he went home. We’re 
taking her on to his place. Untie the horses and 
stretch out your tow rope.” 

The horses took up the slack of the line and once 
again the RED BIRD started southwestward with 
its haul. It was getting along in the afternoon so 
Andy pushed the horses as fast as he dared. The 
wind was rising and the air carried a promise of rain. 
Finally when it was nearly dark, Captain Pride called 
to him. 

“Whoa up, Andy! It ought to be along here some¬ 
where. Is there a dock along the path?” 

Andy peered along the towpath in front of him. 



n8 


Towpath Andy 


A few yards ahead he thought he saw a quay jutting 
out into the canal. 

“Yes, Cap’n, I think there is just ahead.” 

“Get along and find out. If it's there, tie up while 
I investigate a little.” 

Andy drove the horses carefully along to the dock. 
He tied them up and glancing off to the right, saw 
a light on a knoll which rose gently from the level 
of the canal. Captain Jim swung off of the RED 
BIRD and up to his side. 

“I’m going up to that house to see if it’s the place, 
Andy. You stay on the boat with Miss Bradley.” 

“Andy,” said Miss Bradley, as they watched Cap- 
tain Jim walking up the hill, “you and Captain Jim 
have been so kind to me, I never shall forget you.” 

“Aw, we didn’t do anything. I guess Captain Jim 
would help anybody in trouble.” 

“What are you going to do this winter, Andy?” 

“I don’t know, Miss. Whatever Captain Jim says. 
You see I haven’t any home unless I find my father. 
I hoped to hear something this haul, but no luck.” 

“I think you should be in school this winter, 
Andy. I’ve been talking to Captain Pride about it. 
I wish you could come to my school. I’m to teach 



On to Logansport 


i££ 

near here, for my uncle got this school for me.” 

“I’d like to, Miss Bradley, but I don’t know 
whether I’d fit in a school or not, for you see I 
ain’t never been.” 

“Haven’t been, Andy, not ain’t. Captain Pride 
seemed to like the idea, so perhaps you may be able 
to attend my school. I hope so and I trust you hear 
some good news from your father.” 

It grew dark, but after a while they heard a whis¬ 
tle and knew that Captain Jim was coming back to 
the boat. When he appeared there was some one 
with him. 

“This is the right place, Miss Bradley, and here’s 
your uncle to fetch you to the farm.” 

As he swung on to the boat he was followed by a 
large powerfully built man. 

“Uncle Mark!” cried Molly Bradley as the big 
man seised her in a bear hug. 

“Molly girl, you’re here at last. I sort of give you 
up ’til tomorrow, when you weren’t on the packet.” 

“Captain Pride was kind enough to take us on at 
Toledo and he has been so helpful to us. It was 
much more comfortable here than on the lake boat.” 

“Well, Captain Pride is known the hull length of 



120 


Tow path Andy 


the canal as an upright man. You couldn’t have 
chosen a better captain, Molly girl.” He turned to 
Captain Jim. “Won’t you come up and spend the 
night with us, Cap’n?” 

“No thanks, sir, but if you don’t mind, we’ll stay 
tied up here at your dock until morning.” 

Molly Bradley extended her hand to him. “Thank 
you. Captain Pride, for all you have done. I hope to 
be seeing you soon again.” 

Captain Pride blushed through his heavy coat of 
tan, as he muttered awkwardly, “It was nothing, 
ma’am. I’ll be hauling this way shortly and I’ll hope 
to see you then. Good night.” 

Molly Bradley turned to Andy and put her hand 
upon his shoulder. “Don’t forget about school, 
Andy, and see what Captain Jim thinks of the idea.” 





VII 

A BIT OF NEWS 



The next morning a cold autumn rain set in early. 
Andy went out on the towpath, walking with his 
head bent low in an effort to ward off the rain, as 
he plowed along southward behind Queen and Bess. 
It was very rough going, for the towpath soon be' 
came slippery and both he and the horses kept their 
footing with difficulty. The day was so dark and 
gray it was hard to see where the canal left off and 


121 



122 


Tow path Andy 


the sky began. The trees were losing their leaves 
rapidly now and many of them were quite bare. 

After he had slipped along for about three hours 
he heard a halloo from Captain Jim. 

“Halloo, Andy! Tie up the horses at the first tree 
or stump that’s suitable and come aboard.” 

“Very well, sir.” Andy began to look about for 
a place to tie Queen and Bess. 

There had been little or no traffic on the way and 
Andy had noticed that the boats which they had 
passed were all lying at their moorings. In his three 
hours’ walk he had not covered more than seven 
miles, but it seemed he had been walking all day, 
for he was very tired. The horses, too, walked with 
drooping heads and weary bodies. 

After Andy tied up the horses, he hurried back 
to the deck of the RED BIRD, but Captain Jim had 
already disappeared inside the cabin. 

“No more trudging today, Andy boy,” said Cap' 
tain Jim, as he entered the cabin. “It’s no use, for we 
aren’t making any headway. We’ll just stay here 
until the rain let’s up a little. It may be three or 
four days, but that’s part of the game.” 

“I couldn’t seem to get going, sir,” explained Andy 



A Bit of News 


123 


apologetically. “The towpath is so slippery that even 
Queen and Bess couldn’t make it.” 

“So I noticed, lad.” 

“Hadn’t I better bring them into the stalls? That 
rain is cold.” 

“Yes, I guess you’d better, for it’s overnight here 
for us at least. I’ll be getting our dinner while you’re 
gone.” 

Andy struggled out to the slippery towpath again 
and drove the weary horses into their stalls. Then 
he rubbed them down and put out some fresh hay 
for both teams. When he returned to the cabin 
Captain Jim was flopping pancakes dexterously in 
an iron skillet. 

“It’s going to be flapjacks today, Andy, and they 
won’t go amiss on such a morning. Take off your 
wet clothes and spread them in front of the fire.” 

Andy huddled in a blanket at the table after he 
had arranged his wet clothes to dry. “I am hungry, 
Cap’n, and I believe I did get cold and soaked.” 

They ate the cakes with great relish, covering them 
generously with sorghum molasses, which Captain 
Pride had among their staple groceries. 

“Now Andy, I’ve sort of a notion what we’ll do 



124 


Towpath Andy 


this winter and I want to know what you think of 
my plan.” 

“Yes, sir,” replied Andy eagerly, for he had been 
thinking all during the morning about the idea which 
Miss Molly had suggested to him. 

“I doubt if we hear any news from your father, 
but you never can tell. If he’s alive, we’ll learn of 
it along this Wabash and Erie, for all news has a 
way of drifting along this waterway. Of course if 
he should show up, I reckon you’d want to go with 
him.” Captain Jim looked at the boy quizzically. 

“Yes. Yes, Captain Jim, I would. You’ve been as 
kind as a father to me, but if my father is alive, I 
want to be with him.” 

“Naturally and it’s only right son, that you should 
feel this way. But I’d miss you heaps. I’ve taken a 
kind of hankerin’ to you, and it’s been lonesome 
haulin’ with first this boy and that one. Well, the 
first job for you is to take Mrs. Musk her money 
directly we reach Lodi. I’ve the stoves to deliver. 
You can ride old Queen or Bess over to the Musk 
Mill while I’m huntin’ for a new load to take north. 
I’d like to get another haul or so before we tie up 
for the winter. The canal usually freezes over by 



A Bit of News 


125 


the first of December and sometimes even earlier.” 

“Yes sir, and fall seems to be settin’ in early this 
year.” 

“I hev seen this canal frozen hard by Thanks¬ 
giving, and that would mean no more hauls before 
the last of March or later. Other winters I’ve always 
tied up near some big town and I been lucky enough 
to get some odd jobs to tide me over the slack 
season. But I hev something else on my mind this 
year.” 

“What is it, Captain Jim?” 

“Miss Molly wuz talkin’ to me about your goin’ 
to her school and you remember Mrs. Musk was 
anxious for you to get some more schoolin’ too. 
Miss Molly’ll be a powerful fine teacher. I think 
you’d like her school better than Miss Henderson's 
at Logansport, don’t you?” 

“Oh, yes, I know I would.” 

“Well on our last Toledo haul I’m figurin’ on lay¬ 
ing in a supply of staple groceries and cornin’ back 
close to the Bradley farm to tie up the RED BIRD. 
Then I thought I’d open a grocery store for the com¬ 
munity, for I believe it would be a good place. While 
I tend the store you can go to school.” 



126 


Towpath Andy 


“Captain Jim, that’s a whopping bully idea. I’d 
like to go to school to Miss Molly.” 

“Then that’s what we’ll plan to do. You’ll have 
to be a little late gettin’ started, but I can count on 
you to make up the work with Miss Molly’s help.” 

After they had eaten their fill of cakes, Captain 
Jim showed Andy how to carve whistles from the 
wood which they had stored for the fireplace. Early 
in the evening they climbed into their bunks and 
fell asleep to the sound of the rain beating upon the 
deck. 

They remained tied up for two days, venturing 
out only to grain and water the horses. Finally on 
the third day Andy drove the blacks out to the tow' 
path. Although it was cold and damp, it had stopped 
raining, so that they could take up the haul again. 
In a couple of days they reached Attica where some 
of the stoves were to be delivered to the Adams 
warehouse. 

Captain Jim and Andy worked all morning with 
a couple of dock men unloading the stoves, which 
were needed now that it was getting so much colder. 
In the afternoon they started southward at a faster 
pace, since their boat was more than half empty. 



A Bit of News 


El 


Upon arriving in Lodi, Andy saddled Queen and 
with Mrs. Musk's profits safely tucked away in his 
new wallet, rode gaily over to the big road which 
led to the Musk Mill. The Musk children were the 
first to welcome him, for they were playing down 
by the covered bridge. 

“Andy! Andy!" screamed Willie rushing toward 
him. “You're back. Did you come to stay with us?" 

Andy dismounted and immediately all of the Musk 
children were scrambling upon him, each asking 
questions as fast as possible. 

“Where's your mother, Willie?" 

“In the store, Andy. My, we've missed you and 
we haven't had any lessons at all." 

With the four children hanging on to him, Andy 
entered the storeroom of the mill, where Mrs. Musk 
was busy with a customer. 

“Andy!" cried Mrs. Musk. She seised him in her 
arms and gave him a hearty kiss. “You're just like 
my own boy come home." 

Andy was a bit embarrassed by Mrs. Musk's 
effusive greeting, but his heart was warmed by her 
genuine welcome. As soon as the customer had gone, 
Mrs. Musk led the way up to the bedroom where 



128 


Towpath Andy 


John Musk still lay helpless in the great wooden bed. 

“Well, Andy lad, home from foreign parts!” cried 
Mr. Musk, his face lighting up in welcome. “I’m 
sure glad to see you, for we’ve missed you more than 
you will ever know.” 

After Andy had recovered from his welcome and 
the children could be silenced for a moment, he drew 
out his wallet from its hiding place in his belt. 

“I have the money from the man in Defiance, 
Mrs. Musk.” 

Andy counted it into Mrs. Musk’s hand very care- 
fully, not failing to explain just how much Captain 
Pride had kept out for the freight charges. 

“It’s more than I expected, Andy, and I’m in* 
debted to you for its safekeeping.” She handed 
the boy a dollar. “Here is your share, lad.” 

“No, Mrs. Musk. I haven’t earned anything. 
Captain Jim wanted me to take care of it. He lent 
me Queen to ride to bring it to you.” 

“Well, it’s yours, Andy, and you’ve certainly 
earned it. How did you like the captain? I felt a 
bit uneasy lettin’ you go off with a stranger.” 

“There’s no man better, Mrs. Musk. He’s the 
finest man on the canal.” 




John Mus\ still lay helpless 


































A Bit of News 


i3£ 

“Don’t you want to spend the winter with us?” 

“Well now you see, ma’am, Captain Jim sort of 
thinks I should go to school.” 

Then Andy told them of hauling the teachers from 
Toledo to Logansport and of Captain Pride’s inten¬ 
tion to tie up near Miss Bradley’s school. 

“You should be in school, Andy,” put in John 
Musk. “You’ve a good mind, my boy, but it’ll get 
rusty if you don’t put it to work. That’ll be a fine 
opportunity for you and much as we’d like to have 
you with us, I think Captain Pride has the right idea.” 

“Have you, have you heard any news of my 
father?” asked Andy hopefully, turning to Mrs. 
Musk. 

“No, son, we haven’t, although I’ve asked every 
one who has come to the mill.” 

Andy seemed disappointed. “Of course I’ll be 
glad to stay with Captain Jim, but I did hope there 
would be some news of my father. I just can’t think 
he’s —” 

“No, of course he isn’t,” put in Mrs. Musk quickly. 
“And you know Andy, I’ve had powerful hunches 
lately. My hunches are usually right. I’ve kept 
feelin’ for the last few days that you would hear 



! 3 2 


Towpath Andy 


something from him. Keep a stout heart, Andy, for 
I’m sure there will be good news soon.” 

“Yep, she’s been sayin’ every day she had a notion 
and my wife’s notions are usually right. We’ll keep 
askin’ and if any one should come through with any 
news, we’ll be sure to tell him that you’re with 
Captain Pride and the RED BIRD on the Wabash 
and Erie.” 

Andy rose to go. “I better be startin’ now. Cap' 
tain Jim’s waitin’ in Lodi for me. He had the rest 
of the stoves to deliver, and then he wants another 
load, so’s we can make a haul or two before the canal 
freezes over.” 

“You can’t go until you’ve eaten some of my cook' 
ing. We have a dish of hominy and side meat, Andy, 
and I just happen to have a sugar pie.” 

“Well—” Andy smiled at the mention of the pie. 
“Sugar pie’s my favorite, same as it’s Mr. Musk’s, so 
I guess Captain Jim will have to wait until I eat some 
victuals.” 

After Andy had eaten as much sugar pie as any 
boy could hold, he set out with old Queen across the 
covered bridge to the big road which led to Lodi. 
The Musk children walked as far as the road and 



A Bit of News 


133 


stood waving at him until he disappeared on the 
horizon. 

When Andy arrived at the RED BIRD it was 
almost dark, but Captain Jim was walking up and 
down the planked run waiting for him. 

“Hurry and put Queen in the stalls, Andy, and 
we’ll go over to the Blue Swan for supper.” 

“I’m not hungry, Captain Jim, for I ate so much 
of Mrs. Musk’s sugar pie, I don’t want to eat for 
at least a week.” 

“Whoever heard of a boy not being hungry? Be' 
sides you’ve jolted the pie out of the way on the long 
ride from the mill. You can eat something, I’m 
sure.” 

When they entered the Blue Swan not many cus' 
tomers were there, so Andy and the captain sat on 
some high stools at the bar. 

“Hello, Captain Pride? What’ll you have tonight? 
How about a little drink to warm you up?” asked 
the waiter as he wiped off the bar with a greasy 
cloth. 

“No thanks. I’m hungry.” 

“Don’t believe you ever took a drink in your life, 
did you, Captain?” asked the man. “We have some 



I 3 i 


Towpath Andy 


chicken and noodles tonight. How would that go?” 

“You’re right. I have yet to take my first drink. 
Give us two orders of chicken and noodles and some 
apple pie, if there’s any left.” 

When the steaming plate of noodles was placed 
in front of him, Andy found that he had indeed 
jolted down the sugar pie, and had plenty of room 
for the noodles, for they did smell good. 

“Pretty good, hey Andy?” asked Captain Jim. 

“Is your name Andy?” asked the waiter. 

“Yes, sir.” 

“Andy how much?” 

“Andy Burke.” 

“Well I’ll be switched. Captain Pride, I didn’t 
know who was drivin’ for you this fall.” He turned 
to Andy. “Would you be any relation to Matthew 
Burke?” 

“Why, yes,” cried Andy in great excitement. “He’s 
my father. Has he been here looking for me?” 

“Well no, son, he ain’t. But there wus a man eat¬ 
ing here about a week ago now, who was as kin ’ after 
a boy named Andy Burke. He said the boy had 
been left in Indiana, and that he had a message for 
him, if he could locate him.” 



A Bit of News 


135 


“For me? What did he say? Was it about my 
father?” 

The man scratched his head as if trying to recall 
just what the conversation had been. “Well now, 
he said he wuz from down south. Just up from Mis' 
sissippi and that Matthew Burke had asked him to 
look around for his son Andy.” 

“Then my father is alive,” cried Andy. 

“What else did he say?” interrupted Captain Pride. 
“Come, come, man, you must remember it.” 

“He didn’t give me no message when I said I 
hain’t laid eyes on no such lad, but he wuz to tell 
Andy Burke that his father was well and cornin’ back 
to Indiana just as soon as he could.” 

“Where was this Matthew Burke?” put in Cap' 
tain Jim. 

“Can’t say that either, Cap’n, but it seems he wuz 
detained by some sort of business, a sort of a matter 
of jail.” 

“Jail? What would my father be doing in jail?” 

“Sort of a little matter of horse stealin’, as I recall.” 

“But my father never stole any horses.” 

“Look here, is this all you know about Matthew 
Burke?” asked Captain Jim sternly. 



136 


Tow path Andy 


“That’s all, so help me. I’ve told you the hull thing. 
A man come in one evenin’ like I said and asked 
about Andy Burke while he was eatin’ his supper, 
settin’ right where you air. I never saw him again.” 

“All right, I believe you, but get this and get it 
straight. If any one asks after Andy, you tell him 
that the boy’s with Captain Jim Pride of the RED 
BIRD. And if it’s past haulin’ time, the RED BIRD 
will be tied up south of Logansport for the winter. 
Do you understand?” 

“Yes sir, Captain Pride, I do. And if anyone 
comes through lookin’ for Andy, I’ll sure tell him 
what you said.” 











A PLACE FOR THE WINTER 
Captain Pride and Andy tarried in the vicinity of 
Lodi for almost a week, partly because the captain 
was hard put to find a full load to haul northward; 
and partly because he was hoping for some definite 
news of Andy’s father. He inquired of every boat' 
man who docked along the canal and every new' 
comer in the eating houses, but never a word could 
any one give of Matthew Burke. No one seemed to 
have heard of him. 


i37 






138 


Towpath Andy 


Andy was very disappointed. But he was relieved 
to learn that his father was still alive and would be 
returning to him. He was positive that his father 
was above horse stealing and knew that when he 
returned to Indiana he would be able to explain why 
he had been absent for so long. 

Captain Jim wanted to believe in the trustworthy 
ness of Andy’s father and although he said nothing 
to the boy, he was afraid Matthew Burke had met 
with foul play in the southland. When he had ex- 
hausted every avenue of information and had ob' 
tained a load of salt pork for Toledo delivery, he 
gave Andy the signal to let out the tow rope to 
begin the long haul northward. 

It was much colder now and the wind whipped 
and tugged at Andy as he toiled along the towpath 
behind the plodding horses. Traffic was getting 
lighter on the Wabash and Erie. The shanty boats 
had tied up for the winter and the petty merchants 
had removed their jewelry and notions from the 
canal boats and sought warmer quarters in the towns 
for the winter. The packet boats were still keeping 
their schedule, but many freighters had tied up or 
were drifting at their moorings with empty holds. 



A Place for the Winter 


139 


Whenever they met a freighter its captain would 
call out, 

“Hi there, RED BIRD! Captain Pride. Where 
you bound for?” 

“Toledo. Salt pork,” Captain Pride would return. 

Now and then they saw flocks of belated birds 
resting on the stake and rider fences which sometimes 
ran parallel to the canal. And for several nights 
Captain Jim and Andy were kept awake by the 
honking of the wild geese which were among the 
last of the birds to wing their way southward for 
the winter. 

With all of the hardships of the haul, Andy liked 
the towpath. He, too, was becoming familiar with 
the freighters and their captains, and he would sing 
out a lusty greeting to the packets which they met. 
There were no longer many idlers along the planked 
runs in the towns, and when they reached Lafayette 
the great hitchyard was almost empty. 

The RED BIRD kept a fast pace, for at Andy’s 
repeated urging the horses were making all possible 
speed. He walked them even into the night, trying 
to keep ahead of the threatening weather and coven 
ing sometimes as much as fifty miles in a day. 



140 


Tow path Andy 


As they neared the Bradley farm Captain Pride 
blew three long blasts upon his horn and told Andy 
to slacken his pace. Just as they came alongside the 
Bradley place, a young girl came running down the 
hill toward them. 

“Why it's Miss Molly!’’ cried Andy. “I wonder 
how she knew that we’d be along now.’’ 

Captain Jim was already off the boat and halfway 
up the hill to meet her. Andy tied up the horses and 
turned to greet her as she came on to the boat. 

“Hello, Andy! It’s so good to see you.” 

“It’s fine to see you, ma’am.” 

“Come down into the cabin, Miss Molly. It’s too 
cold to stand talking out here,” said Captain Jim, as 
he helped her down the steep steps. 

“I received your letter. Captain Jim, and I dis' 
missed school early so that I could come down to see 
you and Andy. I thought you would make it last 
night, but the captain of the freighter who brought 
your letter said you’d probably not arrive until to- 
day. Uncle Mark and I hoped you’d be in time for 
supper yesterday.” 

“I wish we had, for I certainly enjoy your cook' 
ing.” 




A young girl came running down the hill 


































A Place for the Winter 


143 


“So do I, especially the apple dumplings,” put in 
Andy. “You say school has begun?” 

“Yes indeed, Andy. And a fine school I have too. 
Fm still hoping that you'll be a pupil. What does 
Captain Jim say about it?” She glanced hopefully 
at Captain Pride. 

“He says maybe I can come. Why don't you tell 
her about the plan, Captain Jim?” urged Andy. 

“Well I had sort of an idea, if it meets with your 
approval and your uncle is willing. We have this 
load of salt pork for Toledo. I thought I'd sell Queen 
and Bess at the market there and lay in a supply of 
staple groceries. We could bring 'em back here and 
tie up somewheres hereabouts for the winter. Then 
while Andy goes to your school, I'd keep store and 
sell groceries to the people in these parts.” 

“Captain Jim, what a fine idea! I'm sure Uncle 
Mark will be glad to have you near us, and there 
ought to be a good market for your groceries.” 

“Well I've known some of the captains to do that 
during the winter. The captain of the HARRIET 
did right well one winter with groceries. There's no 
harm in tryin', for Andy ought to be in school, that's 


sure. 



i 4 4 


Towpath Andy 


Andy’s face was alight with pleasure at the 
thought of going to Miss Molly’s school. 

“How soon will you be back, Captain?’’ 

“Well now, Miss Molly, I can’t say for sure. If 
we have luck and it don’t freeze on us, we ought to 
be back inside of two weeks. It all depends on how 
soon I sell the horses and on the weather. I guess 
we better be gettin’ along now, so’s we kin get back.” 

Molly jumped up from the chair by the fireplace. 
“Come up and talk to Uncle Mark about it now. 
Maybe he may have an idea which will help you. 
You can stay for dinner, can’t you?” 

“Oh, we don’t want to put you to so much trou' 
ble,” hesitated the captain. 

“It’s no bother at all, so come on.” Molly Bradley 
bounded up the cabin steps and down the gangplank, 
followed by Captain Jim and Andy. 

When they unfolded their plan to Mr. Bradley he 
thought it a very good one and told them they could 
tie up the RED BIRD at his dock if they liked. But 
he suggested it might be a better idea to stop a little 
nearer Logansport, for there were more families liw 
ing two or three miles from his place. After they 
had eaten as much as possible of Miss Molly's cook' 



A Place for the Winter 


i 45 


ing, Captain Jim and Andy took leave of the Brad' 
leys and started again up the canal. 

They pushed rapidly along, rising before dawn and 
walking well into the night to cover the long distance 
which lay before them. They made it through the 
locks in better time than on the first trip, for the boats 
were fewer and fewer along the way. They spent 
no time idling in the towns through which they 
passed and in a few days they had arrived in Toledo. 

When they had delivered their load of salt pork 
they made ready to attend the market. 

“Andy, groom Queen and Bess, as well as you can, 
for I want to get a good price for them.” 

“Are you really going to sell them, Captain Jim?” 

“Yes, Andy. You know you said they weren’t 
good horses, and maybe in the spring we can buy a 
better team.” 

“Yes, I know I did, but I sort of hate to part with 
them.” 

“Never hate to give up a poor horse for a better 
one, lad. Now selling the blacks would be a different 
matter. There’s no money good enough to buy King 
and Duke, for they’re as fine a matched team as you’ll 
find anywhere on the canal.” 




146 


Towpath Andy 


“But Queen and Bess won’t bring as much as they 
will in the spring, Captain Jim. You see the man 
who buys will have to grain ’em for the winter.” 

“You’re a smart lad to think of that, Andy. But 
we’ll have no use for them and they’ll just take up 
room in the stalls and they won’t be exercised much 
with us. It’ll be a slower trip back to Logansport, for 
we’ll have to rest King and Duke on the way, but 
I’ll get a better price here than back in Indiana.” 

“Very well, sir.” 

Andy disappeared into the stalls and started to 
groom the horses. He rubbed them down until their 
coats shone and he grained them well to fill out the 
hollows in their bodies. When he drove them out 
to the run even Captain Pride was surprised at their 
appearance. 

“Good work, Andy. I believe you’ve added 
twenty-five dollars to the purchase price by your 
effort.” 

The market was a large oblong space enclosed by 
a fence. At one end of it was a long shed in which 
several horses were tied to a hitching rail. The anfi 
mals were rather fidgety, swishing their tails and 
pawing the ground. There were only a few people 



A Place for the Winter 


W 


at the market, but a sign announced an auction to be 
held later in the day. 

“Wantin’’ to trade in horses?” asked the dealer, a 
bluff, hearty-looking man, as Captain Jim walked up. 

“Well in a way,” returned Captain Jim. “I want 
to sell my team, but I don’t want to buy any horses 
just now.” 

“H’m. Well, let’s see ’em. Horses are selling down 
just now.” 

The dealer shifted his tobacco quid to his other 
cheek and walked with the captain to where Andy 
was standing with the team. 

“Well, they ain’t a very good match.” 

“They’re fair enough,” returned Captain Pride. 
“And gentle and quiet as lambs.” 

The dealer looked at the horses critically and 
finally pointed to Bess. “Wouldn’t care to sell that 
one without the other? She’s the better horse.” 

“Bess is a little the favorite, but I won’t sell her 
without Queen.” 

“That other one’s a windsucker and bad for haul¬ 
in’. Well, walk ’em about a bit.” 

Andy clucked to the team and walked them 
around the hitchyard. 



148 


Towpath Andy 


“H’m. Fair. Now separate them and trot ’em for 
me.” 

Andy jerked the rope and trotted first Queen and 
then Bess in a circle. 

“Nice stride,” put in Captain Jim. 

“That air one sprawls. Well, if you care to sell 
’em separately I'll give you ninety dollars for Bess. 
I can’t use the other horse.” 

“No,” replied Captain Pride. “Both of ’em or 
none.” He turned to Andy. “Might as well drive 
’em back, Andy. No sale today.” 

“Wait a minute.” The dealer ran his hands down 
the horses’ legs to determine their soundness. “I’m 
afraid I’ll be stuck with them, but I’ll give you a 
hundred and thirty-five dollars for the team.” 

“No. No sale. Come on, Andy.” 

“How much will you take?” 

“A hundred and seventy-five.” 

“Impossible. Hundred and thirty-five is a good 
price, and then I’ll probably have to grain ’em all 
winter.” 

“They’re good haulers and I can afford to keep 
’em till the spring market.” 

“I’ll raise you to one hundred and fifty. I think 



A Place for the Winter 


149 


I know a fellow who can use them. But not a cent 
more.” 

Andy looked at Captain Jim inquiringly. He 
thought for the season, the price offered was as good 
as they could get. His father would never have dealt 
in such horses. 

Captain Jim hesitated for a moment. “Very well. 
They’re yours, sir. Can you make out the sale papers 
now?” 

“Yes, I can. Lad, tie up the team to that hitch 
rack.” 

The dealer led the way to a little shed which 
served as an office. When they had closed the bar' 
gain, Captain Pride asked rather casually, “By the 
way, do you know Matthew Burke?” 

“Matthew Burke! The fellow who deals in race 
horses?” 

“Yes, sir,” put in Andy, who had been standing 
quietly at the side of Captain Pride. 

“Indeed, I do. But you never bought that team 
off’n Matthew Burke. Haven’t seen him for a long 
time. Friend of yours?” 

“Yes, he is. If you happen to meet him this win' 
ter, tell him that Captain Pride of the RED BIRD 



150 


Towpath Andy 


was asking for him, for he has a boy named Andy 
on his boat, and that we’ll be tied up south of Logans- 
port for the winter.” 

“All right, sir. I’ll do that, but I don’t think he’ll 
be up in these parts this winter.” 

The horses disposed of, Captain Pride and Andy 
went back to town to buy the winter provisions 
which they wanted to carry back in the hold of the 
RED BIRD. They stocked up with coffee and a few 
coffee grinders, tea, flour, sugar, spices, some various 
kinds of hard candy, a few bananas, and some no- 
tions such as thread, needles, and shoe laces. Then 
Captain Pride bought some lumber, saying that he 
probably would have need of it before winter was 
over. 

It was very slow going on the return trip with only 
one team, for the blacks had to be rested every few 
hours, so it was almost three weeks before they tied 
up between Logansport and the Bradley farm. 




ANDY GOES TO SCHOOL 


The next morning when Andy awakened he did 
not hear the familiar lapping of the water against the 
sides of the RED BIRD and he wondered what had 
happened. He dressed hurriedly and went at once 
to grain the horses. When he reached the deck Cap- 
tain Jim was standing there looking down into the 
canal. Andy looked at it too, and saw that they were 
indeed tied up for the winter, for the boat had 
frozen in during the night. 





152 


Tow path Andy 


“Well, winter is here, lad,” said Captain Pride. 
“We didn’t arrive a day too soon. This afternoon 
we have a big job before us.” 

“What’s that, Captain Jim?” 

“We’re going to make some sled runners, and it’s 
particular work.” 

“Sled runners? What for. Captain Jim?” 

“Might want to do some haulin’ this winter, lad, 
and I’ll have to have a sled to travel on the canal or 
the towpath. Have to get the horses wintershod, 
too.” 

It began snowing during the morning and snowed 
all afternoon, but they were too busy to notice that 
the snow was making a new world for them, cover- 
ing the canal so that it was level with its banks. 

Captain Jim took out the lumber which he had 
bought in Toledo and smoothed the long runners as 
slick as he could, so they would run over the snowy 
paths easily. Then he put three stout crosspieces 
across the long runners in the center and at each end. 
By evening they had completed the long sled. 

On the following Monday Andy started across the 
snowy hillsides to Miss Molly’s school. It was held 
in a new one-room clapboard schoolhouse, built on 



Andy Goes to School 


J 53 


the south forty of the Bradley place. He had to walk 
about three miles, wading drifts that were sometimes 
piled higher than his head. He stamped his feet and 
beat his arms against his chest to keep warm, but by 
the time he reached the school house, his breath had 
made little frozen crystals on his muffler, his cheeks 
were apple red and his nose had a whitish cast, which 
spoke ominously of frostbite. 

He walked into the room where about a dozen 
boys and girls were already gathered. Some of them 
were huddled around the new shiny stove in the 
center of the room. Stoves were a luxury for this 
country and many of the children had never seen one 
before. Mr. Bradley was one of the first farmers to 
purchase a stove from the shipment which had but 
lately been brought from Toledo down the canal. 

The older girls were helping Miss Molly to unwrap 
the little children, who were almost frozen from their 
long walk to school. 

“Good morning, Andy,” called Miss Bradley from 
her place by the stove. She was sitting on a bench 
with one of the little girls on her lap. “Hang your 
wraps on a peg at the back of the room and put your 
lunch on the shelf.” 



154 


Towpath Andy 


“Good morning, Miss Molly.” Andy took his coat 
to the peg and put his lunch bucket carefully on the 
shelf which was built on the wall in the rear comer. 
He rubbed his hands and nose a bit, for they were 
beginning to tingle. Then he looked around the 
room. It was the first time he had ever been in a 
school house. 

The teacher’s desk stood at the front of the room 
directly in line with the stove and in front of it were 
two long benches, which were to be used for the class 
recitations. Long rough benches with smoothly' 
hewn tables in front of them for desks were ranged 
in rows across the room, with a wide aisle in the 
center. 

When it came nine o’clock and several more chib 
dren had straggled into the schoolhouse, Miss Molly 
took a little bell from her desk and walking to the 
door at the back of the room, rang it several times 
to signify that school had begun. 

The girls sat on one side of the room and the boys 
on the other, with the little children in front and the 
oldest boys in the rear. There were three other boys 
as old and as large as Andy Burke. 

Miss Molly stood by her desk. “Attention, chib 



Andy Goes to School 


155 


dren, please. Today we shall spend most of our time 
arranging the classes, but first we shall sing an open- 
ing song. What shall it be? 1 ' 

"Hold the Fort ” called one of the girls. 

“All right. Now everyone sing, but please keep 
the tune." 

Miss Molly sounded the pitch with her tuning fork 
and immediately every child was singing lustily, 
Hold the Fort For I Am Coming . 

After the singing the teacher called the ABC 
class up to the front benches. She asked one of the 
older girls to help her with this class so that she 
could work with the children in the first reader. As 
soon as she had tried each pupil in reading, she sent 
them to their seats and called the next reading class, 
the second. When she had heard the classes up to 
the fifth, she spoke to Andy. 

“Andy, you will please join the fifth reading class." 

Andy came slowly forward to the front of the 
room with the older boys and girls. There were six 
in this group and they sat down on the first bench in 
front of the teacher. 

Miss Molly chose an easy selection and one of the 
girls read it very haltingly. Then she tried one of the 



156 


Tow path Andy 


older boys. Finally it came Andy’s turn to read. He 
hesitated a moment and then read the paragraph 
easily. Miss Molly looked a bit surprised, but made 
no comment. When each one had been given an 
opportunity to read, she dismissed this class, all save 
Andy. 

“I want to see what you can do with the sixth 
reader,” and Miss Molly chose a page in the center 
of the book. “Try this, please, Andy.” 

Andy looked at the page and then began: 

The Crusader and the Saracen 
As the Knight of the Leopard fixed his eyes atten¬ 
tively on the distant cluster of palm trees which arose 
beside the well, he thought he saw a long shadow. 

Andy looked inquiringly at Miss Molly. 

“Read on.” 

Andy read all of the selection which was two pages 
in length. Then the teacher turned to the “New 
Year's Night of an Unhappy Man," Andy read that 
to her. 

When he had finished she said, “Andy, your 
mother certainly taught you to read well. We shall 
have to find a more difficult book for you, perhaps 
a copy of Shakespeare’s works. Thank you. You 



Andy Goes to School 


i 57 


have given an excellent exhibition for the pupils. 
You may take your seat.” 

Andy flushed at her praise and walked toward the 
back of the room. He had almost reached his seat 
when one of the girls thrust her foot out slyly and 
tripped him. He stumbled and fell awkwardly into 
his seat, blushing furiously when the entire school 
laughed at him. When order was restored, Miss 
Molly announced that the time for recess had come. 

It seemed that all of the children tried to get out' 
of'doors at the same time. The younger children 
made a snow man and the older boys and girls had 
a lively game of snow ball. 

After recess the children tried their skill in arith' 
metic and spelling. Again Andy distinguished him' 
self, showing that he could work fraction problems 
with ease and could spell most of the words which 
were given to him. At noon the older boys shoveled 
snow paths around the building and brought in more 
wood for the stove. Andy became acquainted with 
the boys, listening to their tales of husking prowess. 
He told them about his travels along the Wabash and 
Erie Canal. 

In the afternoon Miss Molly called the geography 



158 


Tow path Andy 


classes, while some of the children worked with writ' 
ing in their copy books. Alas, when Andy listened 
to the geography class he discovered that he knew 
nothing about continents or hemispheres, for his 
mother had not had time to teach him much about 
the world in which he lived. 

When the children went home, Miss Molly asked, 
Andy to remain after school to help her with some 
work. “Andy, I was well pleased with your work 
this morning,” she said as he put on his coat to go 
home. “You may begin with the class in square 
root, and your reading is well in advance of any pupil 
in school, but you will have to be with the younger 
children in the geography class.” 

Andy tried not to look disappointed as he replied, 
“I just don’t know anything about geography. Miss 
Molly. Mother didn’t teach me anything about it.” 

“It won’t take long for you to catch up with the 
other children, Andy, for you read well. You’ve 
traveled quite a bit and you know some of the practh 
cal geography of your own country. That counts 
for something. We didn’t have time to have any 
grammar classes today. Have you studied grammar?” 

“Grammar? What is it, Miss Molly?” 













































Andy Goes to School 


161 


“I guess you haven’t made its acquaintance or you 
wouldn't ask,” laughed Miss Molly. “It is the study 
of words and sentences, of cases of nouns, of verbs 
and parts of speech.” 

“No, I’m afraid I don’t know much about it either. 
I guess I have a lot to learn.” 

“Never mind, for I’ll help you and you will soon 
be as good as the best of the pupils. By the way, 
what is Captain Jim doing these days?” 

“He’s been busy making some sled runners, and 
today he took the blacks to Logansport to be winter- 
shod. He thought perhaps he might get some haul¬ 
ing to do along with keeping the grocery store. I 
can keep store on Saturday, you know.” 

“You haven’t had any word from your father, 
have you?” 

“No ma’am, not direct, but I know that he is alive 
and will come back for me when he can.” Then 
Andy told her what the man had said at the Blue 
Swan. 

“Then he will be returning for you, Andy. Rest 
assured of that. Meanwhile, we must work as hard 
as we can so that we can surprise him with what you 
have learned.” 



162 


Tow path Andy 


In the days that followed, Andy worked dili¬ 
gently, trying to catch up with the older children 
in the subjects in which he was deficient. He strug- 
gled with the grammar, and found it difficult to parse 
a sentence. Sometimes he became disgusted, but since 
he was a determined boy, he resolved not to let that 
subject get the best of him, and by Christmas time 
he was ready to go into the advanced grammar class. 
He had more difficulty with geography, for he found 
it hard to understand the imaginary lines of the equa- 
tor and the meridians, and he was always getting con- 
fused with the seven seas. 

He enjoyed the Friday afternoon spelling bees 
when the pupils would choose up sides and try to 
outspell each other. Some of the parents came to 
visit. Often Uncle Mark Bradley dropped in to see 
how his niece’s school was progressing. Captain Jim 
found time almost every Friday to come over to the 
school, for he was very much interested in Andy’s 
work, or could he be interested in some one else at 
the school? Andy was beginning to wonder. 

On the day before Christmas, the Bradley school 
held open house for all the parents and pupils. By 
one o’clock the little schoolhouse was filled to over- 



Andy Goes to School 


i6j 


flowing with father's and mothers and friends of the 
school. Outside the clearing around the school build' 
ing was filled with teams hitched to sleds. 

Several of the older pupils gave declamations and 
the little children sang songs. The spelling bee was 
the high point of the afternoon, for it was a battle 
of wits between the boys and the girls. The boys 
stood in a line at one side of the room and the girls 
on the other. Whenever a pupil missed a word, he 
was forced to take his seat and finally only Andy 
remained standing for the boys, while three girls 
held their line against him. 

Excitement was running high even among the pan 
ents over the outcome of the match. Miss Molly 
pronounced the words and she smiled as she gave 
out the word “incomprehensibility.” 

“bn in, c-O'm- com, p—” Mary Adams began vab 
iantly, then giggled nervously and amidst loud clap' 
ping by the boys, took her seat, leaving two girls 
against Andy. 

“bn in, c-O'm- com, p-r-e' pre, h-em* hen, s-b si, 
b'i'b bil, i-t'y ity, incomprehensibility,” spelled Andy 
very carefully. 

“Good. Inadvertently.” 



164 


Tow path Andy 


A second girl was forced to sit down, while Andy 
spelled the word correctly. Finally Andy Burke was 
declared the champion when he spelled animosity 
correctly. 

Captain Jim could not have beamed more proudly 
if Andy had been his own boy. He helped Miss 
Molly to distribute the treat to the children, for he 
had brought bananas and stick candy from his own 
store, while she had made each pupil a big popcorn 
ball. When Miss Molly passed Andy’s desk, she 
stopped long enough to tell him to wait a few mim 
utes after the rest had gone. 

He and Captain Jim lingered until every sled had 
gone from the schoolyard, save theirs, and Miss 
Molly said, “Andy, I asked you to wait so that I 
could ask you and Captain Jim to come to our house 
for Christmas dinner. Will you come? Uncle Mark 
is counting on it.” 

Andy looked expectantly at Captain Jim. “What 
about it, Cap’n?” 

“Now that’s real nice of you, Miss Molly, to ask 
two old bachelors out to dinner on Christmas Day. 
Yes, indeed, we’ll be glad to come.” 

“Come over about noon then. Miss Henderson is 



Andy Goes to School 


165 


coming out from Logansport. I want to talk to her 
about Andy’s schooling, for it won’t be long before 
Andy will be ahead of my teaching.” 

As they drove back to the canal Andy glowed 
with happiness at Miss Molly’s praise and his part 
of the afternoon performance, but he said nothing. 
He was thinking of how kind she and Captain Pride 
had been to him. How could he ever repay them? 

When they reached the RED BIRD, a strange 
horse was tied up to the boat. 

“I wonder whose horse that is,” said Captain Jim. 
“Haven’t seen it around here before.” 

“Perhaps some one wants something for his Christ¬ 
mas dinner,” suggested Andy. 

“Go ahead, lad, and I’ll put the horses in their 
stalls.” 

Andy gave one leap up to the deck of the RED 
BIRD and dashed down the cabin steps. He opened 
the door and saw a man sitting by the fire, warming 
his hands. The man turned as the door opened, and 
as Andy recognized him he cried, “Father! Father! 
I knew you’d come.” 




X 

CHRISTMAS AT THE BRADLEYS 


Andy threw himself upon his father, hugging him 
as if he could not let him go. Meanwhile Captain 
Pride had come down to the cabin, and he stood 
silently in the doorway, watching the reunion. He 
saw a tall spare man, very like Andy grown older, 
but a man who looked very pale and worn and very 
thin. 

When Andy could recover from his happy sur¬ 
prise, he turned to Captain Jim. “Captain Pride, this 
166 




Christmas at the Bradleys 


167 


is my father, Matthew Burke. He’s come at last.” 

The tall thin man rose and extended his hand to 
the captain. 

“I can never thank you sir, for looking after my 
boy. I’ve heard all along the canal of how kind you 
have been to him. Treated him like your own, so 
everyone tells me.” 

“I’m glad to shake hands with Andy’s father,” 
replied Captain Pride. “Andy’s been a godsend to 
me this season.” 

“Tell me, Father,” put in Andy, “where you’ve 
been and what kept you so long.” 

Matthew Burke heaved a long sigh. “It’s a long 
story, son, and it’s not finished yet,” said his father, 
his face darkening, “but at last I’ve found you. Your 
mother—” his voice stopped and his face twisted 
oddly. 

Andy, too, looked sad at the mention of his 
mother, but Captain Jim said hurriedly, “You’ve 
been ill, haven't you, Matthew Burke?” 

“Not sick exactly, Cap’n. Jail gave this pallor to 
me and I was nearly starved, too.” 

“Jail? What happened, Father?” 

“A lot, my boy, and it isn’t over yet. Well, after 



i68 


Towpath Andy 


I left you and your mother in Indiana, I made for 
St. Louis with my string of horses. I was to deliver 
’em you know, to the New Orleans racing stables.’’ 

“Yes. You had six horses didn’t you, Father?” 

“Yes, six besides my own saddle horse and six 
thoroughbreds, too, if I do say it. I stabled ’em in 
St. Louis and I didn’t trust leavin’ them alone, so I 
slept in the stables with them. I had to wait several 
days to get a place on a boat and the night before I 
was to ship ’em, I was slugged while I was sleeping. 
The next thing I knew I was gagged and bound, rid¬ 
ing on a freighter bound for New Orleans. My horses 
and my ownership papers were gone.” 

“Someone stole your thoroughbreds?” 

“Yes, Andy, cleaned me out. I was taken off the 
boat at night and thrown into jail like a common 
horse thief. I tried to get the jailer to send for 
Colonel Brooks there in New Orleans, but he 
wouldn’t do it. He said hanging was too good for 
horse thieves. And a hanging I might have had too, 
son, if it hadn’t been for a lad about your age. He 
came peering in at the door one day and I begged 
him to go to Colonel Brooks for me.” 

“Did he go. Father?” 



Christmas at the Bradleys 


169 


“Yes, he went to the colonel with my story and 
in a day or two Colonel Brooks appeared. He was 
very angry with me, for he hadn’t received the horses 
and they had been sold to a rival stable. He thought 
I had doublecrossed him. I told him what had hap' 
pened and he believed my story, for I had sold horses 
to him in the past. He tried to get me released, but 
he couldn’t. If it hadn’t been for him I know I would 
have been hanged right off, and he did promise to 
send word to your mother about me.” 

“We never received any word, Father. And then 
I had to run away, for I was afraid of the workhouse 
after Mother—after—” 

“Yes, son, I heard all about that. You see I traced 
you to the Musk Mill and Mrs. Musk told me all 
about your winter with her. You’ve had a bad time, 
Andy.” 

“How did you get your release?” put in Captain 
Jim. 

“There was another string of valuable horses 
stolen from the colonel’s stables, and he was deter' 
mined to catch the thief. He had track of him, but 
the fellow got away and came up north. Really it 
is a band of thieves. One man is the brains of the 



i7o 


Tow path Andy 


gang, but he doesn’t do the actual stealing. I’ll know 
him if I ever see him though, for he was looking at 
my horses just before they were stolen in St. Louis 
and if I ever find him—” 

“But how did you get out?” persisted Andy. 

“When Colonel Brooks was convinced that a band 
was working all through the South, he used his in¬ 
fluence to have me freed. Then he took me home 
with him for a few weeks, for I was too weak to 
travel and I had almost died of starvation. Then I 
took some kind of fever and had to stay with him 
for several months. As soon as I was able I started 
north. The horse outside belongs to the colonel. He 
let me have him for the trip.” 

“Better bring him on to the RED BIRD,” sug¬ 
gested Captain Pride. “I’ve plenty of room to stable 
him.” 

“No, I’d better be moving on, Cap’n. Get ready, 
Andy, and we’ll be going.” 

“All right. Father.” Andy’s face fell when he 
thought of Miss Molly’s invitation. “But tomorrow’s 
Christmas.” 

“You can’t leave now, man,” put in Captain Jim. 
“You must stay and have Christmas dinner with us— 



Christmas at the Bradleys 


121 

that is, the teacher asked us for dinner. But you’ll 
be a welcome guest, I’m sure.” 

“Yes, Father,” put in Andy quickly. “I’ve been 
going to school and I want you to meet Miss Molly. 
I know she won’t care if you come with us.” 

After much persuasion Matthew Burke consented 
to stay over Christmas and have dinner with the 
Bradleys. When he brought his horse on to the 
RED BIRD, he was much taken with Captain Jim’s 
handsome team of blacks. 

“I don’t know when I’ve seen a better matched 
team, Cap’n. They ought to bring top price in any 
market.” 

“I’m kind-a proud of King and Duke and I hope I 
never have to sell them.” 

After supper Captain Jim insisted that Andy and 
his father sleep in the cabin and he made his bed in 
the stalls with the horses. Andy and his father talked 
long into the night of all the things which had hap¬ 
pened since Matthew Burke left Indiana. His father 
told Andy that he planned to go to Toledo, where 
he hoped to get started with the horsetrading busi¬ 
ness again. It was going to be hard, for he had to 
make a new beginning and he had very little money 



172 


Tow path Andy 


to buy a string of horses now. When Andy finally 
dropped to sleep he had restless dreams of his father 
being abducted again. 

Christmas Day dawned cold and clear. The snow 
was deep, but it was packed hard and the horses had 
no difficulty in carrying the men to the Bradley farm. 
When Miss Molly opened the door to greet them, 
she found three guests instead of two, but she could 
tell, not so much by the resemblance between two of 
them, as by Andy’s shining countenance that her 
unexpected guest was Andy’s father. 

“This must be Matthew Burke,” she cried gaily, 
extending her hand to him in welcome. 

“Miss Molly, he came. He came in time for 
Christmas,” cried Andy. “I knew you wouldn’t care 
if he came with us for dinner.” 

“Care!” interrupted Miss Bradley. “Why he’s the 
very nicest present we could have. And you, Cap* 
tain Jim, it wouldn’t be Christmas without you.” 

She led them into the sitting room where her 
Uncle Mark and Miss Henderson were waiting. 
After she had introduced Andy’s father to them, she 
went to the kitchen to attend to the dinner. While 
she was gone Matthew Burke told his experiences 




“This must be Matthew Burke,” she cried gaily 





















































Christmas at the Bradleys 


121 


again for the benefit of Mr. Bradley and Miss Hen¬ 
derson. 

After a little while Miss Molly called them to din¬ 
ner. And such a dinner! Andy’s eyes fairly popped 
when he saw three wild turkeys on the table, along 
with cranberries, potatoes, hominy, baked apples, 
pumpkin and mince pies. When everyone had eaten 
more than he should, but as much as possible, they 
began talking about the future. Molly Bradley was 
anxious to unfold a plan which Miss Henderson had 
suggested for Andy. 

“I don’t know what your father will think of our 
planning your future for you, Andy,” began Miss 
Molly, “and perhaps he will want you to go with 
him. But Miss Henderson and I have been talking 
and we think you should go to school.” 

“But I do go to school, ma’am. And I like your 
school, too.” 

“To be sure, Andy, but you’re almost beyond 
what I can teach you, and it would be a shame for 
you to stop now.” She turned to Andy’s father. “He 
has the foundation for making a bright man, Mr. 
Burke.” 

“That’s what his mother always wanted. And I 



176 


Towpath Andy 


promised to settle down so the boy could go to school, 
but I never got around to it,” finished Matthew Burke 
sadly. 

“His mother gave him an excellent start, sir.” 

“She was always teaching him to read or to figure 
or spell. I never saw the beat of it, for I think she 
spent most of her waking hours teaching Andy. She 
wanted to make a lawyer of him.” 

“Why that’s right in line with Miss Henderson’s 
idea. Mattie, tell them your plan.” 

“Molly has been telling me about Andy’s work in 
school,” began Miss Henderson. “She thinks he has 
great possibilities and should go far with the proper 
training. I think he should prepare for some college.” 

“College!” exclaimed Andy. “Are there any col¬ 
leges in this part of the country?” 

Miss Henderson smiled. “Yes, Andy, there are 
several good colleges out here in the Middle West 
and very well-trained teachers manage them. There 
is a particularly fine college for boys not very far 
from here. It is Wabash College at Crawfordsville.” 

“I’ve heard about that school,” put in Captain 
Pride. 

“I know Professor Hovey and his wife very well, 



Christmas at the Bradleys 


i 77 


and if we wrote to him, I believe he would help us.” 

“But colleges are expensive, Miss Henderson.” 
Matthew Burke was interested, but looked doubtful 
about the idea. 

“This one isn't exorbitant, Mr. Burke, and many 
of the boys work at least a part of their way. I should 
think—I’m guessing now—that Andy could attend 
for a year with a hundred dollars.” 

“A hundred dollars!” The amount was staggering 
to Andy, who had just earned a little more than ten 
dollars trudging the towpath. 

“Not even the price of a good horse,” murmured 
Matthew Burke. 

“You’re right, sir, and this opportunity would 
mean much more than a horse to Andy. Of course 
he is not prepared now to take the entrance examh 
nations, for I’m sure some Latin and Greek is re' 
quired, and Molly tells me he needs more work in 
grammar and geography.” 

“Yes, but Andy is coming along nicely in those 
subjects.” 

Andy flashed a smile to Miss Molly. She was the 
most understanding person he had ever known out- 
side of his own mother. 



178 


Towpath Andy 


“Well,” Captain Jim had been listening intently, 
“if Andy’s father is willing, I think it would be a 
good idea for Miss Henderson to write to her friends 
to find out more about this notion. The towpath 
isn’t the life for Andy Burke.” 

“No, nor horse trading either,” muttered his 
father. 

“But I like the towpath and I love horses.” 

“That I know, Andy, but the time is coming, and 
soon too, when the canal will no longer be attractive. 
I can see it coming closer every day, for the railroads 
are going to take the place of the canal.” 

“But that will be years, Captain.” 

“Not so long, Mr. Bradley, for we’re already be' 
ginning to feel the effect of the rails. There hasn’t 
been as much traffic on the Wabash and Erie these 
last two years. It costs too much to keep this water¬ 
way in repair. What with the rotting aqueducts, 
and the crawfish boring through in the spring. I’m 
told the tolls don’t cover the upkeep expense.” 

“As I see it,” said Matthew Burke slowly, “the 
country needs educated men. There are too many 
of my stripe in it now, with no education and no 
trade.” 



Christmas at the Bradleys 


179 


“But Father, you know everything about horses. 
And that’s important.” 

“Not everything, son, and I got my early training 
in a Virginia stable. But it’s a dangerous life and an 
unsettled one. You enjoy going to school, don’t you, 
Andy?” 

“Oh, yes. Father. If the teachers are all like Miss 
Molly, I’d like nothing better than going to school.” 

Captain Jim laughed. “They won’t all be like Miss 
Molly, Andy. She’s one in a thousand.” 

Miss Molly blushed furiously and hoped that the 
others did not notice. But Andy saw it and won' 
dered again just why he and Captain Jim happened 
to tie up near the Bradley farm. 

They talked at length of Miss Henderson’s plan 
and finally when the shadows began to grow long 
and the short winter afternoon to draw to a close, 
Captain Pride said it was time to be getting back to 
the RED BIRD. The horses would need graining 
again. 

Andy rode along happily in the sled between his 
father and Captain Jim, wondering about his father’s 
plans and his own future. 




XI 


CAPTAIN JIM MEETS WITH DISASTER 
Immediately after Christmas extremely cold 
weather set in along the Wabash and Erie. It was 
so cold that school did not open for more than three 
weeks after the holidays. Captain Pride’s grocery 
venture had not proven very profitable, and although 
the residents of the RED BIRD had plenty to eat, 
Captain Jim began to think of getting other work to 
help out for the rest of the winter. 

180 



Captain Jim Meets with Disaster 


181 


Matthew Burke wanted to go East to find some of 
his friends who would help him get into business 
again. He knew several men who would probably 
help him to buy a new string of horses, but he was 
forced to wait for several weeks, for traveling in this 
subzero weather was out of the question. 

When the weather moderated ever so little, Cap- 
tain Pride drove his sled along the canal to Logans' 
port in hopes of finding some hauling to do. Every' 
thing was very dull in town however, and it seemed 
that the inhabitants had holed in for the winter. He 
did get the promise of some hauling for the railway, 
bringing logs from their lumber camp to Logansport, 
as soon as the weather opened up enough for him to 
make daily trips with his sled. 

Finally near the end of January Andy started back 
to school, resolved to work his best, for the school 
session would not be more than six or eight weeks 
longer. As soon as the weather permitted, the older 
children would begin their work on the farms, and 
the subscription school guarantee had been only for 
a five months’ school. Captain Jim started hauling 
logs from some of the timber land which the com' 
pany had leased, and a little later, Matthew Burke 



Towpath Andy 


182 

in company with Mr. Mark Bradley set out for 
Toledo. It was decided that Andy should remain 
with Captain Pride on the RED BIRD until his 
father should return for him. 

After Captain Pride began hauling logs, Andy 
assumed the task of cooking their evening meal, for 
he could hurry home from school and have supper 
ready by the time Captain Jim returned. 

One Friday evening he ran all the way from school 
to the RED BIRD, for he had some news for the 
captain about Wabash College. Miss Henderson had 
written to Professor Hovey as she had promised, 
and Andy was now carrying the letter which she had 
received to Captain Pride. 

He whistled merrily as he set the table for their 
supper, and he hoped that Captain Jim would come 
home just a little early this evening. He wanted to 
know what news the letter contained, but he re- 
framed from reading it until the captain could share 
it with him. 

Captain Jim usually returned about dusk, but his 
coming depended upon the number of logs felled for 
hauling each day. The place where the loggers were 
felling trees was about six miles from the RED BIRD, 



Captain Jim Meets with. Disaster 


i §3 


but it was on the opposite side of the canal and 
almost directly eastward. From there, they hauled 
logs over the frozen canal to Logansport, where they 
were stored by the railway company to be used as 
soon as work began in the spring. 

Darkness soon covered the canal, but Captain 
Pride did not come. Andy was disappointed, for he 
had fried their chops and they were beginning to get 
cold. Every few minutes he would run up on deck 
and peer out into the snowy country to see if he 
could see him coming. Then he would give a loud 
halloo, but no answer came to him. Finally Andy 
began to grow anxious, for Captain Jim had never 
been so late before. When he could stand it no 
longer, he resolved to go in search of him. He had 
never been to the woods where they worked, but it 
was not hard to find, for the horses’ tracks and those 
of the sled runners were plainly visible. 

Andy walked and ran, calling out every little 
while, but he met with no answering cry. After a 
very long time he arrived at the woods, but there was 
no one there. Only a pile of logs ready for tomor' 
row’s hauling, greeted him. Where could Captain 
Jim be? 



184 


Towpath Andy 


By the faint moonlight he found the path which 
the haulers took toward the canal and Logansport. 
He was very cold now and had no notion where Cap' 
tain Jim could be, yet intuition or some sense of dis- 
aster forced him to keep on the path. Then he heard 
a man groaning. As he came nearer he saw an oven 
turned sled, with logs scattered about on the snow, 
and by its side lay Captain Jim. 

“Captain Jim! What happened?” 

“Andy, boy, you’ve come at last! I thought I was 
going to freeze to death here. Could you manage 
to help me get up? My leg. I can’t seem to move it.” 

With Andy's assistance Captain Pride managed to 
rise, but he sank down immediately with a groan. 
“My leg, Andy. I think it’s broken.” 

“I can get you on the sled and we’ll drive home.” 
He looked around. “Where are the horses?” 

“Gone. I don’t know what happened. I thought 
I heard a pistol shot, but something frightened the 
horses and they bolted. I hung on to the reins and 
something struck my head. Then the horses broke 
loose and galloped off into the woods. The sled over' 
turned and fell on me. I managed to crawl out, and 
that’s all I could do.” 



Captain Jim Meets with Disaster 


185 


Suddenly Andy had the sickening realisation that 
he could not carry Captain Jim back to the RED 
BIRD and there were no horses to pull the sled. He 
must get help and soon, too, for there was grave dan' 
ger of Captain Jim’s freezing. He would run back to 
the Bradley place and Miss Molly would help him. 

“I’ll get help, Captain Jim. It won’t take long.” 

“Andy, could you make a fire first? And maybe 
you could turn the sled toward the north beside me, 
to keep the wind out a bit.” 

“Yes, sir, I can.” Andy pulled and tugged at the 
sled until he succeeded in pulling it around on the 
north side of the captain. Then he made a fire as 
close as he dared to keep him from freezing. 

“That will be all right, Andy.” 

Andy sped away as fast as he could over to the 
canal and back to the Bradley farm. It seemed that 
he was forever reaching it, but considering the snow 
and the cold, he arrived in an incredibly short time. 
He knocked loudly at the kitchen door. 

“Miss Molly! Miss Molly! It’s Andy.” 

“Why Andy, what’s the matter?” cried Molly 
Bradley when she saw his anxious face. 

“It’s Captain Jim, ma’am. He was hurt over by the 



i86 


Towpath Andy 


log works. The horses have run away and he’s not 
able to walk.” 

“Don’t stand out there in the cold. Come in. We’ll 
have to go after him?” 

“Yes, ma’am. What do you want me to do?” 

“Let’s see.” Molly was already getting her coat. 
“You hitch the horse to the cutter and I’ll get some 
blankets and meet you outside.” 

Andy went out to the bam and soon had the cut' 
ter ready. Then he and Miss Molly drove with all 
speed back to where Captain Jim was lying. 

“Jim. Jim, you’re hurt,” cried Miss Molly, as she 
lifted Captain Pride in her arms. 

“It’s my leg, Molly,” explained the captain, trying 
not to wince with pain. 

“We’ll get you into the cutter and have you home 
in a jiffy. Andy, help me put Captain Jim in the 
sleigh.” 

As gently as they could Andy and Molly lifted 
Captain Jim into the Bradley cutter. Molly tucked 
the blankets around him and soon they were on their 
way to the RED BIRD. It was with great difficulty 
that they managed to carry him on to the boat and 
down into the cabin. 




“Andy, help me put Captain Jim in the sleigh” 














































Captain Jim Meets with Disaster 


189 

“Now Andy, I’ll make some coffee, for you must 
have your supper.” 

“I’m afraid the chops are cold,” mourned Andy, 
as he gased ruefully at the cold food set out on the 
table. 

Together they managed to remove Captain Jim’s 
wet boots and make him as comfortable as possible 
in his bunk. Miss Molly soon had some coffee and 
scrambled eggs ready and Andy found that he was 
very hungry after all. 

“Now Andy, can you drive to Logansport for the 
doctor? I don’t think Captain Jim’s leg can wait until 
morning for attention.” 

“Yes ma’am, right away.” 

Andy set out again in the Bradley cutter for 
Logansport. It was much easier going now than it 
had been on foot. He had some difficulty arousing 
the doctor, but soon they came trotting back to the 
RED BIRD. 

All during the night, Molly Bradley was kept busy 
helping the doctor and straightening out the con' 
fusion in the cabin. When dawn came at last and 
Captain Jim had fallen asleep, she told Andy that 
he could drive her back to the Bradley farm. It had 



190 


Towpath Andy 


been snowing during the night and the ground was 
covered with the freshly fallen snow. 

“Miss Molly, may I take one of your teams to go 
after the sled? I’ll try to locate the black team, too.” 

“Yes, Andy, that’s a good idea. Take Ned and 
Bill. You’d better ride Bill, for he takes a rider better 
than Ned. Don’t worry about Captain Jim, for after 
I’ve rested a little I’ll go back to get his breakfast.” 

“I don’t know what I’d have done without your 
help. Miss Molly. Captain Jim might have frozen 
there if I’d had to go to Logansport for help.” 

Molly Bradley’s face clouded at the thought. “I’d 
do anything for Captain Jim, Andy.” 

“So would I, ma’am.” 

Andy did not stop at the RED BIRD, but went 
directly to the woods where the logs were waiting 
for the haulers. It was very early and none of the 
workers had arrived. He righted the sled and hitched 
it to the Bradley team. Then he looked about to see 
which way the blacks had gone when they bolted 
with Captain Jim. But the snow had completely cov- 
ered any trace of the runaway horses. 

“I’ll have to find them,” muttered Andy. “They 
can’t have gone far.” He drove the team in a wide 



Captain Jim Meets with Disaster 


i2 1 

circle, trying to pick up the tracks of the blacks, but 
finally had to give it up and return to their boat. 

Captain Jim was awake and did not seem to be in 
much pain. “Where have you been, Andy?” 

“I took Miss Molly home and then I went after 
your sled.” 

“Miss Molly! Was she here all night? I sort of 
lost out on what went on, after we reached the 
RED BIRD.” 

“Yes, sir, and she was plenty worried, too, sir. 
She’s coming back soon to get you some breakfast.” 

Something in Captain Jim’s expression made Andy 
think that they had not tied up near the Bradley farm 
just to have him go to school. 

“She’s a fine lady, Captain.” 

“The best there is, Andy. Have the blacks come 
home?” 

“No sir, they haven’t.” 

“That’s strange. I thought when they got over 
their fright, they’d return to the boat. That's the 
first time they ever ran away.” 

“I tried to find the trace of them when I went 
after the sled, but it has been snowing and there 
wasn’t a single track to guide me.” 



192 


Tow path Andy 


“Snowing? Well, they must be some place in the 
neighborhood, for they know every inch of this 
countryside. You know my head feels queer this 
morning.” Captain Jim rubbed the sore spot on the 
back of his head. 

“Yes sir, you had some kind of a blow on the 
head, the doctor said.” 

“I remember a noise, like a shot, and then it did 
seem that something hit me on the back of my head, 
just before King and Duke bolted and started running 
so wildly. I can’t remember exactly though.” 

“I’ll take Mr. Bradley’s horse and ride back along 
the canal to see if I can find any trace of ’em.” 

“Not now, Andy. They won’t go far in this 
weather and they’re smart enough to find some shel¬ 
ter. Perhaps someone will take them up for me. 
You look tuckered out, lad, and you must get some 
sleep before you make any more journeys.” 

“Don’t you want some breakfast, sir?” 

“I believe I prefer Miss Molly’s cooking, Andy,” 
smiled the captain. “You tumble into bed and don’t 
worry about breakfast.” 

Andy climbed into his bunk and slept so soundly 
that he did not hear Miss Molly when she arrived 



Captain Jim Meets with Disaster 


193 


a little later. He must have slept the day through, 
for the lamp was lighted in the cabin when he awak¬ 
ened. Miss Molly was sitting by the fire knitting and 
Captain Jim was lying quietly watching her fingers 
fly back and forth with the yam. 

“Are you rested, Andy?” 

Andy looked stupidly around the cabin. “What 
time is it? I must have overslept. I’ll have to go now 
to hunt King and Duke.” 

“Not tonight, Andy,” laughed Molly. “You’ve 
slept all day, but you needed it. Aren’t you hungry?” 

“Yes, I—I guess I am,” replied Andy, now thor¬ 
oughly awake. “I didn’t mean to sleep all day.” 

“It’s a good thing you did, lad, for you and Molly 
had a long night of work. You can go in search of 
our team in the morning.” 






XII 

ANDY MAKES A DISCOVERY 


Perched high upon the broad back of old Bill, the 
Bradley horse, Andy set out early the next day in 
search of Captain Jim’s runaway blacks. He had no 
idea where to look for them, but he decided to foh 
low the towpath and ask at every house along the 
way to Logansport, if any one had seen King and 
Duke. Then if he was not successful he would ask 
the residents of the town. Surely some one would 
have taken them up by this time. 


194 


Andy Makses a Discovery 


121 


It was not nearly as cold now and the bright Feb- 
ruary sun was melting the snow a little, so that it 
was rather slushy going. The bluejays and sparrows 
were darting hither and thither, hunting for stray 
crumbs and dried up berries which might still be 
clinging to the bushes. Andy thought he could hear 
the water gurgling underneath the canal and this 
would mean that hauling could not be many weeks 
away. 

But there would be no hauling for him along the 
Wabash and Erie unless he found Captain Pride’s 
horses. He wished that his father and Mr. Bradley 
would come back from Toledo, for he knew they 
would help him and soon find the wandering team. 

When he reached the first house he tied up his 
horse to the post and walked around to the kitchen 
door. The farmer was at home mending some har¬ 
ness. No, he had not seen a black team, but he knew 
the horses and if they came this way he would surely 
take them up for the captain. At the farmer s in¬ 
sistence Andy warmed himself a little, then mounted 
his horse and rode on to the next house. He stopped 
at every home along the canal, but no one had seen 
King and Duke. 



196 


Towpath Andy 


Arrived in town he sought out the doctor to re- 
port that Captain Jim’s condition was satisfactory. 
The old doctor advised him to go to the sheriff, for 
surely he would know some news about the black 
team, as people always notified him when they took 
up stray animals. But the sheriff said no horses had 
been taken up all winter. Several horses had strayed 
away though and he made a memorandum of Captain 
Pride’s loss and promised to send word if he heard 
any good news. 

By this time Andy was quite hungry. So he 
stopped in the restaurant of the Logansport House 
for a cup of coffee. 

“Have you seen a runaway team of black horses?” 
asked Andy as the woman set his food on the counter. 

“Horses, sonny? No, I haven’t. It’s queer though, 
for you’re the third fellow inquiring about lost 
horses this winter. Whose team was it?” 

“Captain Jim Pride’s, ma’am. Captain of the RED 
BIRD on the Wabash and Erie. They were mighty 
fine animals, too.” 

“It’s always the finest that wanders off, seems to 
me. La! Captain Pride’s. That’s a shame, for he’s 
one of the finest boaters on the whole canal. If I 



Andy Ma\es a Discovery 


197 


hear any news I’ll be sure to let you know quick.” 

Andy didn’t know where to go in his search, but 
as it was rather early in the afternoon, he decided to 
ride beyond Logansport a little way in hopes of find' 
ing some trace of their horses. It was queer, though, 
that no one had seen them. In this weather they 
couldn’t have gone far. Andy now began to fear that 
the horses had become confused and wandered a 
long distance. Perhaps they had been frozen, for it 
was very cold the night they ran away. 

He rode on and on, stopping all along the way, 
but with no success. He had almost decided to turn 
back when he noticed a large house quite a distance 
from the canal. He would make one more stop and 
then if he heard nothing, he would have to go back 
to the RED BIRD. He hated to return, however, 
without at least some hopeful news for Captain Jim. 
King and Duke were the captain’s most prized pos' 
sessions, and they had cost a large sum of money, of 
that Andy was certain. 

When he arrived at the large house he knocked 
and waited a little while, but no one came to the 
door. He peered in at the front window and saw a 
large, barely furnished room. It looked almost as if 



198 


Tow path Andy 


no one lived there, but he could see a fire burning 
in the fireplace. 

Perhaps the owner was at the barn. Andy would 
go to see. Leaving his horse tied at the front gate, he 
made his way back to the bam which was not far 
from the house. As he neared it he heard voices, 
angry voices, high-pitched and excited. 

“I tell you, you must take them away before the 
end of the week. I can’t have these horses here.” 

“Yes, sir, but this is no weather to take a team 
east. Can’t we grain ’em for a couple of weeks or so?” 

Andy thought he had heard that first voice before, 
so he went on to the bam door. Two men were stand¬ 
ing at the end of a row of stalls, and the light from 
an open door at the other end of the bam shone full 
upon them. As Andy peered in at them he recog¬ 
nized the larger man as the strange passenger whom 
they had carried on the RED BIRD almost to 
Fort Wayne. He was on the point of calling out 
to them, for they were not aware that any one else 
was near, when the stranger spoke again. 

“Captain Pride’s going to be out looking for these 
blacks soon, and I must have them far from here. It 
would min me if they were found on my place.” 



Andy Makes a Discovery 


I 99 


"Not much he won’t, for I give him a good klop 
on the head. When he fell he twisted his leg and 
couldn’t get up. I think he’s goin’ to set still for a 
while, for he’s not able to go around hunting the 
team.” 

Andy drew back against the side of the barn, for 
now he realised he was hearing some news which 
might be dangerous for him to know. As his eyes 
grew accustomed to the half light of the stalls, to his 
great surprise he saw one of Captain Jim’s blacks in 
the first stall next to him. He dared not speak to the 
horse, for it was already pawing around excitedly in 
its place. 

Thieves! This man, dressed in the height of fashion 
that day last autumn was a horse thief. Was this 
their hideout? Andy could make out the forms of 
several other horses in the nearby stalls. He must get 
away before the men in the bam discovered him. He 
turned quickly and ran back to old Bill. He mounted 
the horse and then carefully placing the house and 
the surrounding landscape in his mind, he rode rap¬ 
idly away, hoping he had not been seen by the men. 

Twilight was closing down upon him, but he no¬ 
ticed every landmark which would help him to return 



200 


Towpath Andy 


unerringly to this place where Captain Jim's precious 
blacks were being kept. The stranger had said some- 
thing about taking them away, so whatever Andy 
did, would have to be done very quickly. He decided 
the first thing for him was to go back to the RED 
BIRD and tell Captain Jim what he had seen and 
heard. 

He pushed old Bill as fast as possible, but it was 
well after dark when he arrived at the boat. He took 
Bill on deck and forward to the now empty stalls. 
After graining him and rubbing him down a very 
little, he dashed back to the cabin. 

“Hello, Andy. You've been gone all day. What 
news?” 

“Oh, sir, I found 'em. I saw them and they're all 
right.” 

“Well, why didn’t you bring them home? Where 
were they?” 

“They were in a bam on the other side of Logans- 
port. Well, you see I couldn’t bring them with me. 
They had been stolen.” 

“Couldn’t you prove they were our horses? Cer¬ 
tainly King and Duke knew you.” 

“Yes, sir, I believe they did, although they didn’t 




He too\ Bill on dec\ 
























































































* 













Andy Malles a Discovery 


203 


see me, but one of them pawed the stall terribly.” 

“What was the matter, Andy?” 

Then Andy told him the whole story, how he had 
wandered from house to house along the canal, in- 
quired from the sheriff and at the hotel at Logans' 
port, but had found no trace of the horses. Then he 
told him how he happened to ride farther and what 
he had overheard at the bam. 

“And he was the same man, Captain Jim, the one 
we saw on the deck of the SILVER BELL, who rode 
with us almost to Fort Wayne. He’s just a common 
horse thief after all. No wonder I didn’t trust him.” 

“I wonder if you haven’t made an important dis' 
covery, Andy. You know I didn’t like that man from 
the moment he set foot on my boat.” 

“Nor I, Captain Jim. I saw him at Logansport, 
while you were with Miss Henderson and Miss 
Molly, hunting Mr. Mark Bradley.” 

“You did? Where, Andy?” 

“He was just coming out of a tobacco store as I 
walked along the run. He joined up with me and 
came almost to the RED BIRD. He asked me if you 
wanted to sell King and Duke.” 

“So! He’s had his eye on them for a long time. 



204 


Tow path Andy 


But he had a lot of gall to steal them from me. You 
know I thought I’d been hit on the head, but I 
couldn’t be sure. It all seems so hazy.” 

Captain Jim lay quietly on his bunk for a few min- 
utes, while Andy watched his face anxiously. 

“This blasted leg. I wish I could get to Logans^ 
port. I wish your father would come back. I think I 
could use him.” 

“Captain Jim, you don’t think my father had any 
hand in stealing the blacks, do you?” 

“No, lad, most certainly not, but I wonder about 
a lot of things. I wish Matthew Burke wuz; here. I 
need him.” 

“I’ll do anything you want me to do, sir.” 

“That I know, Andy, and you’ve done a big thing 
today. You handled the business well. The first 
thing in the morning I want you to ride over and find 
the sheriff. No matter how busy he is, bring him to 
the RED BIRD to talk with me.” 

The sun shone brightly the next day and as soon 
as Miss Molly arrived to care for Captain Jim, Andy 
set out on old Bill for Logansport. It took him a little 
while to locate the sheriff, but Andy soon persuaded 
him to go back to the RED BIRD to see Captain 



Andy Makes a Discovery 


205 


Pride. He did not tell the sheriff that he had located 
the horses, but only that the captain needed help. 

“Well, sheriff,” began the captain as soon as the 
man had seated himself by the bunk in the cabin, “I 
found the team of blacks.” 

“I’m glad to hear it, Captain. Did some one take 
them up for you? I hope the horses weren’t any the 
worse for their little run. It has been cold weather 
for wandering horses.” 

“No, sir, they weren’t exactly taken up for me and 
I don’t have them on my boat yet. That’s why I 
sent for you. I think Andy here has made a big dis* 
covery for you. Something mighty important’s in 
the wind. I want you to get them back for me.” 

“Me to get them back! I’ll be glad to. Captain 
Pride. Where are they?” 

“On the other side of Logansport. Andy, tell the 
sheriff where and how you found them.” 

Andy repeated his experience of the day before. 

“Do you mean the Grimes place?” asked the 
sheriff. 

“I don’t know whose place it is, sir, but I know 
the house when I see it.” Andy described the house 
and its location in detail. 



206 


Towpath Andy 


“There must be some mistake, Captain Pride,” 
said the sheriff when Andy had finished his story. 
“You see the Grimes place has been deserted for a 
long time. It’s been for sale to settle an estate. I’ve 
met the man who leased it this fall. Name’s Clayton, 
Jonathan Clayton. He’s a horse dealer and a big one, 
I think, but he’s no thief. Why, he even helped me 
recover some stolen horses last summer.” 

Captain Jim spoke up: “I had the pleasure of meet' 
ing him earlier this last fall, too, but I think he is the 
brains of a great horse-thieving ring. He’s been smart 
enough not to get caught, and he’s probably been 
getting on the right side of you, just in case he got 
into some difficulty. Will you take Andy and go 
after my team today?” 

The sheriff hesitated. “Well, I can’t go today, 
Captain, for I got some other work laid out to do, 
but I’ll go the first of the week. Meanwhile, I’ll look 
up the fellow’s actions. You can’t brand a man a thief 
until you have some evidence against him.” 

“Isn’t my team evidence enough, sheriff?” 

“Next week will be too late,” put in Andy. “He 
said the team would have to be moved before the 
end of this week.” 



Andy Ma\es a Discovery 


207 


“The boy’s right. He’s too smart to keep those 
blacks in these parts, for he knows they might be 
recognized and that I’ll be hunting them,” added 
Captain Pride. 

“You can’t move horses in this weather. Captain 
Pride. I’ll look into it though, right away. I would 
hate to accuse an honest man of horse stealin’. Why 
that’s a serious offense. Most likely he’s just taken 
’em up for you and the boy here misunderstood the 
conversation. I’ll be gettin’ back to town now and 
I’ll let you know right off what I hear.” 

The sheriff picked up his hat and went out of the 
cabin. 

“Well of all the— He didn’t believe me!” exploded 
Andy, as he heard the sheriff’s step on the deck of 
the RED BIRD. 

Captain Jim’s face was a thundercloud. “This 
Clayton’s hoodwinked the sheriff, too. By criminy! 
I’ll go myself, Andy. I’ll be able tomorrow. That 
team’s not going to get away from me, not if my 
name’s Jim Pride.” 

“But your leg. Captain Jim,” cried Andy. “You 
can’t go. Why you can’t make it off of the RED 
BIRD.” 



208 


Tow path Andy 


“Oh, yes I can, Andy. You borrow the Bradley’s 
cutter and you can drive me to Logansport to- 
morrow.” 
























MATTHEW BURKE CLEARS MATTERS 
Andy was tom between the desire of bringing the 
stolen team back to the RED BIRD and the fear that 
Captain Jim would injure his broken leg further in 
his effort to travel to Logansport. When Molly 
Bradley returned to the boat in the evening to get 
their supper, he told her of the captain’s resolve to 
go after the blacks. 


209 


















210 


Towpath Andy 


“But he can’t go, Andy,” cried Molly Bradley. 
“I’ll be glad to lend you the cutter, but Captain Jim 
must not risk traveling in his condition. Doesn’t he 
realize he has a broken leg? Why it might kill him 
to make the trip.” 

“I don’t know, ma’am, but if we don’t go right off, 
the team will be taken away and we can never re* 
cover them. I wish my father would come home. He 
would know what to do.” 

“Yes, and Uncle Mark, too. They should be re' 
turning any day now. We certainly can’t let Cap' 
tain Jim go.” 

“Oh, but I’m going, Molly,” put in Captain Jim, 
who had been lying quietly on his bunk with his eyes 
closed. 

“Jim! We thought you were asleep. But it’s mad' 
ness for you to think of going. The blacks aren’t 
worth the risk to your leg.” 

“Yes they are, Molly, and neither Jonathan Clay' 
ton nor any other man is going to put this kind of a 
deal over on me. Andy’s to get the cutter the first 
thing in the morning.” 

Andy and Miss Molly did not argue the point fur' 
ther, for they could see that it was useless to talk 



Matthew Burke Clears Matters 


211 


with Captain Pride now. They both hoped that some 
way would present itself to keep him from carrying 
out his plan the next day. 

Andy was scarcely awake the following morning 
before Captain Pride began calling him to bring his 
boots and clothes to the bunk so that he could get 
dressed. 

“But you must have some breakfast first, sir,” said 
Andy, trying to delay the Captain until Miss Molly 
arrived. Perhaps she could persuade him not to go. 

“Well, make some coffee then and be quick about 
it. Every minute we delay may cost us the horses.” 
Captain Jim was struggling with his boots. 

When Andy had prepared breakfast and could 
think of no other excuse for remaining on the boat, 
he set out reluctantly for the Bradley place to get the 
cutter. Arrived at the bam he met Molly as she was 
saddling her horse to come over to the RED BIRD. 

“I can’t put him off any longer, Miss Molly. He 
made me help him with his boots and he’s dressed 
to go with me. He was tuckered out time he was 
dressed, though.” 

“We can’t let him go, Andy. Can’t you think of 
something?” 



212 


Towpath Andy 


“No, ma’am. I’ve been trying to all morning. If 
you say so, I’ll go alone. Miss Molly, without stop' 
ping at the boat. We have to get those horses soon.’’ 

“You can’t do it by yourself, Andy. I have an 
idea. You hitch up the cutter and I’ll go with you 
to Logansport. Perhaps I can convince the sheriff 
that he must go with us today.” 

With lifted spirits Andy drew the cutter out from 
its place in the shed. Perhaps Miss Molly could do 
something, for she had a persuasive way about her. 
They could at least try it. 

They drove along briskly and had almost reached 
the RED BIRD when two horsemen appeared com' 
ing along the slushy towpath. One of the men was 
leading a horse at his side. 

“I do believe that’s Uncle Mark,” cried Molly 
Bradley, shading her eyes from the morning sun to 
see more clearly. 

“And Father! Oh, it is, it is!” shouted Andy, as 
the horses drew nearer to them. 

“Hello!” called Matthew Burke. “Hello, Andy 
boy.” 

“We’re so glad you’ve come, Father. We’ve been 
needing you.” 



Matthew^ Burke Clears Matters 


2I 3 


“Yes, Uncle Mark, we have to have your help.” 

“What’s up, Molly? No bad news, I hope.” 

“Yes, but you’ve come just in time.” 

As they tied up their horses and hurried on to 
the RED BIRD and into the cabin, Molly and Andy 
tried to tell all of their troubles without drawing a 
breath. With Captain Jim’s help they poured out 
the whole story. 

Matthew Burke looked critically at the captain’s 
injured leg. “That’s a bad leg you have, and you’re 
to lie quietly and not try to use it. We’ll go right off 
after the team and the sheriff will go with us. I 
wonder—” he muttered to himself, “I wonder if I’m 
going to end my long search today.” 

“Yes,” put in Mark Bradley, “the three of us will 
go to Logansport and we’ll have no difficulty per¬ 
suading the sheriff to accompany us.” 

“You’re great friends, boys, all of you and I appre¬ 
ciate your kindness,” said Captain Pride as he lay 
back exhausted on his bunk. 

Molly went up on deck with them and watched 
the three stalwart men, for Andy was as large as his 
father, ride toward Logansport. They left the cutter 
for her to drive back to the Bradley place. 



214 


Towpath Andy 


Arrived in town, Mark Bradley soon convinced 
the sheriff that his most urgent business at the mo¬ 
ment was going with him to the Grimes place, and 
soon the four rode forth north and east of Logans- 
port, Andy leading the way. 

“Father, did you get any one to help you?” asked 
Andy as they rode together a little in advance of the 
others. 

“Yes, son, I did. This is my horse and I’ve credit 
for a new string of racing horses. I’m to get them as 
soon as the weather opens up a little. I want to re¬ 
turn the one I borrowed from Colonel Brooks, and 
I think I’ll have good news for him before this day 
is over. Something tells me that I shall. Are we near 
the place, Andy?” 

Andy studied his surroundings. “Yes, I think that 
is the house yonder.” He pointed to a white house 
on the next hill some little distance from the canal. 
Then he turned to the other men who were follow¬ 
ing close behind. 

“I think that is the place, Mr. Bradley.” 

“That’s the Grimes place, all right,” nodded the 
sheriff. 

As they rode up to the house a man was just com- 



Matthew Bur\e Clears Matters 


215 


ing from the bam, driving a handsome black team. 

“There they are, Father. That's King and Duke." 

“Are you sure, Andy?" 

“Yes, Father. The horses will know me, too." 

When the man in the barnyard saw the four horse- 
men, he started to turn back to the bam. 

“Stop! Stop, I say in the name of the law!" cried 
the sheriff, aroused at last. 

Andy dismounted and ran quickly over to the 
horses. He began patting them quietly. “Duke. 
King, old boy, where have you been?" 

Duke whinnied and nulled his head against 
Andy’s shoulder, while King stretched his neck in 
the endeavor to reach the boy. 

“They know the lad all right," said Mark Bradley. 

“Where are you going with that team?" asked the 
sheriff. 

“It’s Jonathan Clayton’s team, sir. I’m taking them 
up to town this morning." 

“Oh, no, you’re not. You’re under arrest for pos¬ 
session of stolen horses, for that team belongs to Cap¬ 
tain Jim Pride of the RED BIRD. I think we’ll just 
have a look around the bam, too." 

“Ought to be arrested for assault," muttered Mark 



216 


Towpath Andy 


Bradley, “for I believe he’s the fellow who hit Cap' 
tain Pride on the head. Is this the man you saw in 
the bam, Andy?” 

“I can’t be sure, sir, for I couldn’t see him as well 
as I saw Jonathan Clayton.” 

“You can’t do that, sir,” put in the man who was 
still holding the reins of the black team. “Mr. Clay' 
ton’s not at home and I can’t take you through the 
bam without his leave.” 

“Oh, you can’t? That’s too bad. We’ll just have 
a little look around alone. Might see something else 
interesting in the stables. Come on, boys.” 

“There ain’t any more horses there, sheriff. Mr. 
Clayton doesn’t do much trading in this weather.” 

“Just a little stealing now and then,” sneered Mat' 
thew Burke, as he started toward the bam. 

At this moment they heard a halloo from the front 
of the house and a man came riding toward them. 

‘Well I’ll be blowed—he’s riding my own horse, 
my Dandy,” cried Matthew Burke. 

Jonathan Clayton stopped for a moment when he 
saw the group of men in the barnyard, but came 
forward affably enough when he recognized the 
sheriff. 




“He's riding my own horse, my Dandy" 




















































Matthew^ Burke Clears Matters 


219 


“Good morning, sheriff. What can I do for you 
today?” 

“Quite a bit, Clayton, I should say. These your 
horses?” The sheriff nodded toward King and Duke, 
whom Andy was still patting. 

“Why, yes. I bought them only a few days ago. 
Quite a matched team, aren’t they?” 

As Jonathan Clayton looked from one of the men 
to the other, he suddenly recognized Andy as the 
driver for the RED BIRD, and his face lost its ex' 
pression of affability. Then as he gazed into the 
searching eyes of Matthew Burke, his face blanched, 
but he assumed an air of bravado. 

“You mean you stole them from Captain Pride,” 
sneered Matthew Burke. “Stole them as he was leav- 
ing the lumber camp for the day. It’s been a long 
time, Jonathan Clayton, but I think you and I have 
an old score to settle. A little matter of a string of 
fine race horses, stolen last year in St. Louis.” 

Jonathan Clayton attempted to stand his ground. 
“You must have made a mistake, sir, for I don’t recall 
ever having seen you before.” 

“Tax your memory then, Clayton. Perhaps you 
can tell me why my string of horses was sold to a 



220 


Towpath Andy 


rival stable in New Orleans instead of being delivered 
to Colonel Brooks, the real buyer. Can you explain 
why I was bound, gagged and stuffed into a boat 
bound down the Mississippi? And how do you hap' 
pen to be riding my horse, Dandy?” 

“I thought that horse looked like Dandy, Father.” 

At the sound of the word Dandy, the lively horse 
which Mr. Clayton was holding, reared up in air and 
whinnied loudly. 

“I see he remembers his name. Dandy, old boy, 
have you missed me?” asked Matthew Burke, as he 
stroked the horse’s mane. 

“This man is your thief, sheriff, and a clever one 
at that,” said Mr. Clayton. “He stole the black team 
and sold it to me, but I give you my word I didn’t 
know they were stolen. As for this being his horse, 
that’s rubbish. I bought this little animal at the 
market in New Orleans.” 

“Your story doesn’t hold water, Clayton,” said 
Mark Bradley. “It just happens that he was on a trip 
with me in the East when these horses were stolen. 
Sheriff, we’re wasting time. Arrest these men and 
hold them for a while.” 

“I have plenty on you, Jonathan Clayton,” re' 



Matthew Bur/(e Clears Matters 


221 


marked Matthew Burke quietly. “You’re wanted 
in several places down South and it won’t take me 
long to get the evidence to put you where you be' 
long.” 

“If that’s your horse, Burke, can you prove it?” 
asked the sheriff. 

“I think I can, sir, for I spent a long time training 
that animal.” At a signal from Matthew Burke, the 
horse lay down and rolled over. Then he did a few 
dancing steps. At a whistle from his master he trot' 
ted briskly away and at a second whistle, he returned 
to drop on his knees at Burke’s feet. 

“Looks like proof enough to me.” The sheriff 
turned to Clayton and his companion. “You two are 
under arrest and you’re going to Logansport with me 
to stay until we can get certain evidence against you. 
If you’re wanted in the South, we’ll be glad to de' 
liver you over to the authorities there. Pretty clever 
fellow you are, Clayton. Had me fooled. I’ll admit, 
but this Burke is no slouch either.” 

“Andy, you ride back to the RED BIRD and take 
the blacks with you,” said Mark Bradley, “for Cap' 
tain Pride will be anxious to hear from us. Your 
father and I will ride with the sheriff to take these 



222 


Tow path Andy 


men to town. Tell Captain Jim he can put the extra 
horses in my stable, for we'll be bringing Dandy back 
with us.” 

Andy watched the men as they rode along the 
canal with their two prisoners between them. Then 
he turned to King and Duke. 

“Old fellows, we'll be going back home now. It 
pays to trust to your hunches. The first time I saw 
Jonathan Clayton, I knew he meant bad luck for us. 
Come on, King. Get up, Duke. At last my father 
is cleared of any part in this horse stealing.” 

Late in the evening Matthew Burke and Mark 
Bradley returned to the RED BIRD, happy to relate 
that Jonathan Clayton and his companion were safely 
lodged in the Logansport jail to await prosecution at 
the hands of the men in the South, who had been 
searching for them. Andy's father was glad to re- 
cover his favorite horse, but he was far happier to 
have the evidence which would clear him of any im¬ 
plication in the horse thieving ring. Andy, too, was 
gratified to have had a part in proving to his friends 
that his father was innocent, and he told Captain 
Jim everything that had happened at the farm. 

Captain Pride lay quietly on his bunk, propped up 



Matthew Burke Clears Matters 


223 


by some pillows so he could enjoy his visitors. His 
heart sang with joy in the knowledge that his prec¬ 
ious team of blacks was now resting in the forward 
stalls. 

“What are you going to do now. Father?” asked 
Andy, as they sat comfortably in the cabin, enjoying 
the hearth fire after supper. 

“He’s coming over to stay a spell with Molly and 
me,” put in Mark Bradley before Matthew Burke 
could reply. 

“I must return Colonel Brooks’ horse as soon as I 
can and get word to him that we’ve caught up with 
Jonathan Clayton. But Andy, son, what about you? 
Do you want to go with me?” 

“I’d sort of counted on having him haul with me 
this spring,” said Captain Jim from the depths of his 
pillows. “I’ll need him bad till my leg gets well.” 

“Why Jim, you mustn’t think of hauling for a 
while. You aren’t able,” said Molly Bradley quickly. 

“Well, not yet, Molly girl, but as soon as the 
weather permits, we’ll have to go. Cash is getting 
sort of low.” 

“I hoped to finish the term of school, suggested 
Andy. 



224 


Towpath Andy 


“School! Why of course, son, by the way, have 
you heard anything more about the college? You 
know the one Miss Henderson was talking of at 
Christmas time.” 

“Yes we did, Mr. Burke. Andy, what did you do 
with the letter I gave you? The one Miss Hender¬ 
son received from Professor Hovey?” 

“Why Miss Molly—I—let’s see. I had it the eve¬ 
ning Captain Jim was hurt. It must still be in my 
coat.” Andy jumped up and took his coat from its 
peg. “Here it is.” He brought the letter forth from 
his pocket where it had been lying. 

“Read it, Molly, and tell us what it says,” sug¬ 
gested Captain Jim. 

Miss Molly read the letter carefully and smiled as 
she explained it to her eager listeners. 

“Professor Hovey says he will be glad to help any 
boy recommended by Miss Henderson. It will take 
about a hundred dollars for the year. Let’s see.” 
Molly Bradley consulted the letter again. “The 
tuition is $21 for the year. Board is $1.50 a week. 
Room rent exclusive of wood and light is $9.00 a 
year. Books can be rented from the school. There 
are entrance examinations in certain branches. 



Matthew Bur he Clears Matters 


225 


They’re listed here and he says if a boy is deficient 
in any of the subjects, that he can take it in their 
preparatory department.” 

“Do you want to go to this college, Andy?” asked 
his father. 

Andy hesitated for a few minutes. “Yes, Father, 
I should like to try it, if Miss Molly thinks I can pass 
the examinations. As Captain Jim says, I can’t walk 
the towpath all my life.” 

“I’ll help you, Andy. We can study for the ex¬ 
aminations. I don’t know about Latin and Greek. 
They’re listed here, but I can tutor you in all the 
rest of these subjects.” 

“Then it’s settled, lad,” put in Matthew Burke. 
“If Captain Jim needs you this spring, you’re to haul 
with him. Study all you can and next fall you can 
enter Wabash College. I’ll have the money ready.” 

When it was decided that Andy should haul with 
Captain Pride for another season, Matthew Burke 
tarried for a couple of days with the Bradleys and 
then set out for the South with his horses. He prom¬ 
ised to look out for a team to take the place of Queen 
and Bess on the towpath, and to send them to Cap¬ 
tain Pride as soon as possible. 



T 



SPRING COMES TO THE WABASH 
AND ERIE 


It was not long until the ice began breaking up in 
the canal. The water gurgled and sang as it broke 
through the ice-bound channel. The crayfish were 
busy making holes in the canal bed, which meant 
extensive repairs for the canallers later on; while the 
spring freshets were filling the feeders almost to over¬ 
flowing. Along the banks the pussy willow buds 
swelled to the bursting point and soon they made a 
226 





Spring Comes to the Wabash and Erie 


227 


gray silky haze all along the waterway. The robins, 
the first heralds of the spring, were already flying 
overhead and Andy was certain that he had heard a 
meadow lark. 

Before the ice had entirely disappeared, a few 
freighters came nosing along the big ditch that was 
the Wabash and Erie, hoping to get the first of the 
spring hauling. Captain Jim’s leg was improving, 
but he could not use it well yet, although he became 
impatient to start hauling as soon as he saw the first 
freighter. In other years he had been among the 
first of the daring captains to brave the spring thaws. 
He said nothing to Andy, though, for he had de¬ 
cided to wait until his school term was over. 

On the last day of school, Captain Pride an¬ 
nounced he was about ready to begin the spring haul. 

“But Captain Jim, do you think you’re able to 
go? Of course I can do all the walking on the tow- 
path, but you shouldn’t stand on your leg all day at 
the sweep.” 

Captain Pride laughed. “Andy, you and Molly 
will make an old woman out of me, coddling me all 
this while. My leg needs exercise and I intend to 
use it, lad.” 



228 


Towpath Andy 


“How soon do you plan to leave, Captain? I'm 
ready whenever you are.’’ 

“Well, in a few days now, perhaps a week. The 
RED BIRD needs overhauling, a few repairs here 
and there, and perhaps a coat of paint. After that’s 
done, our going depends on Molly.” 

“What do you mean, sir?” 

“I’ve persuaded Molly that I need to be taken care 
of and that you need a tutor on the towpath.” 

“She’s going with us?” 

“She is, Andy, and she’s going to be Mrs. Jim 
Pride, when the RED BIRD starts hauling this 
spring.” 

“You’re going to be married?” Andy smiled broad¬ 
ly. “Well, you know I thought this boat was tied 
up here for some other reason than just my going 
to school.” 

“You’re a smart lad, Andy. I’ve said so all along, 
but it’s taken me all winter to persuade Molly to 
haul with me on the RED BIRD. We’ll have to get 
busy now, for I want the boat caulked and painted. 
The horses need to be shod, the harness wants going 
over, and I think I’d better buy a new tow rope.” 

For the next few days after Captain Jim had 



Spring Comes to the Wabash and Erie 


229 


caulked it thoroughly, Andy was absorbed in paint' 
ing the boat. When he had finished he was quite 
proud of his work and the RED BIRD did look very 
gay and fresh in its new coat of paint. 

Then he went over the harness, inspecting every 
part for possible weak spots, and oiling it well. He 
thought the tug seemed rather worn and told Captain 
Jim about it, but the captain said they would have 
to use it until they could get another. 

While they were repairing the outside of the boat, 
Molly Bradley renovated the cabin. Now that her 
school term was finished, she spent most of her time 
scouring and scrubbing every nook and cranny of the 
cabin. She aired the blankets and their clothes, and 
finally hung gay red checked curtains at the tiny 
cabin windows. Even Andy and Captain Jim had 
to admit that the boat was improved. 

While Captain Pride was in Logansport getting 
the black team shod, Andy cleaned the stalls under 
Miss Molly’s direction. In town the captain learned 
that he could get a load of ashes at Montezuma to 
haul northward. He bought a new towrope and 
much to Andy’s surprise, purchased a new suit for 
his wedding. 



2 3 ° 


Tow path Andy 


Molly decided to have a home wedding at her 
Uncle Mark Bradley’s house, and invited all of the 
children of her school and their parents. It was a 
gala day and everyone came looking his best for this 
important occasion. Molly Bradley was lovely in her 
white wedding dress which Miss Henderson helped 
her to make, and Andy scarcely recognized his own 
Captain Jim in his new suit, for it was the first time 
he had ever seen the captain in any clothes besides 
his hauling outfit. 

Captain Jim and Miss Molly were married at noon 
on the first day of April. Uncle Mark had done his 
best to make it a long remembered day and served a 
bountiful dinner to all of his guests. When every 
one had eaten as much as possible and had congratu¬ 
lated Captain Jim on winning such a pretty bride, the 
guests accompanied the bridal pair to the RED 
BIRD. As they stood on the bank waving their fare¬ 
wells, Andy let out the towline, urged on the horses 
and began the first spring haul to Montezuma. 

It was very pleasant having Miss Molly, or rather 
Mrs. Jim Pride on the boat with them and Andy had 
to admit her cooking surpassed that of his beloved 
Captain Jim. Andy was very happy and whistled 




Molly Bradley was lovely in her white wedding dress 


























Spring Comes to the Wabash and Erie 


233 


merrily as he walked the towpath and glanced back 
every now and then at the captain and Molly stand¬ 
ing at the sweep. As he gazed ahead he noticed that 
the canal was at a higher level than usual and water 
stood in all of the fields, for the spring rains had 
deluged the surrounding country. 

Two days later as Andy passed a feeder of the 
canal, he saw the water was almost at the top of the 
wooden gate which kept the swirling water from 
pouring into the canal. The swishing noise fright¬ 
ened the blacks, making them plunge and rear, but 
Andy held the reins firmly and managed to get them 
safely along the path. He was a bit uneasy, however, 
as he looked at the menacing water. 

“Captain Jim!” he called, turning back toward the 
RED BIRD. “Shall I try to go on?” 

“Yes, Andy, keep a firm grip on the reins and I 
believe King and Duke will make it all right. They’re 
a bit frisky after their winter of laziness and the wa¬ 
ter’s higher than I’ve ever seen it.” 

Captain Pride seized the long pole which he kept 
on deck for emergencies and tried to keep the boat 
true to its course. Molly was standing at the sweep 
with him, and she, too, was worried by the angry 



2 34 


Towpath Andy 


water. Andy turned again to his task of keeping the 
horses in hand, and saw that the other drivers were 
having difficulty with their teams on the towpath. 

As they neared the town of Covington, they had 
to pass a large mill located at the junction of a feeder 
and the canal. It was larger than the Musk Mill 
and had a longer wooden dam. As they came even 
with it, Andy noticed that the water was almost 
even with its top. Then he heard a peculiar crack' 
ing noise and before he could stop the horses, the 
dam had broken in the center and the swirling heavy 
waters came tumbling over the levee. In a moment 
the RED BIRD was caught in the seething mass of 
water which came pouring down upon them. 

King and Duke lunged and bolted. With a snap 
the worn tug gave way, leaving the towrope and the 
boat at the mercy of the water. Andy grasped the 
reins tightly, but the horses were running madly 
now, and in another moment he was thrown head' 
long into the canal. He floundered about, gasping 
and choking, but still hung on to the reins. 

The blacks, now wild with fright, dragged him 
mercilessly through the water as he strove to gain 
a footing. Andy heard a horrible cracking sound and 



Springy Comes, to the. Wabash, and Erie 


235 


tried to look around for the boat. He saw it caught 
in the seething whirlpool which was now the canal, 
saw it rise on its stem and then plunge underneath 
the dark heavy waters. The horses plunged on, pull¬ 
ing him through bushes and mud until at last they 
were forced to stop, for they had become tangled 
in the harness. 

Andy was thrown face downward in a muddy 
field. When he could get his breath he stood up and 
looked about. The horses were exhausted and trem¬ 
bling with fright. He looked back at the canal for 
the boat, but it was nowhere to be seen. A crowd 
was gathering on the bank near where he had last 
seen the RED BIRD, but he could not see Captain 
Jim nor Molly. He waded through the muddy field 
as fast as possible toward the crowd to find out what 
had happened. 

In the center of the group of people he found Cap¬ 
tain Jim carrying his exhausted wife in his arms. 

“Captain Jim! The RED BIRD! What hap¬ 
pened?” gasped Andy. 

“Andy, you’re safe! Thank God! The boat’s 
gone, broken to smithereens.” 

“Miss Molly! Is she all right?” 



236 


Towpath Andy 


“I think so, but I must get her out of this.” 

In some fashion the three of them were taken to 
the mill, where dry clothing was found for all. Miss 
Molly was placed in a warm bed to recuperate from 
the terrible experience. It seemed that every one in 
Covington had witnessed the disaster and was anx- 
ious to help the survivors of the RED BIRD. 

“King and Duke! Where are they?” asked Cap- 
tain Jim when he was sure that Molly was going to 
be all right. 

“I hung on to ’em, Captain, just as you said. I 
left them tangled in their harness in a field down 
the way.” 

“Your horses are safe in my stable,” put in the 
owner of the mill. “One of the men drove them here 
for you. They’re pretty skittish, but they’ll quiet 
down after a while.” 

For the next few days, the residents of the ilhfated 
RED BIRD remained at the Covington Mill, re¬ 
covering from their struggle with the water. While 
there had been other boats near the scene of the 
disaster, Captain Jim’s craft was the only one which 
was caught by the seething waters of the broken mill 
dam. Nothing was saved from the wreckage, but 



Spring Comes to the Wabash and Erie 


237 


they felt extremely fortunate to have escaped with 
their lives. After a few days rest, Molly Pride was 
her usual sunny self and tried to comfort the captain 
in his loss. 

Overnight the news of the accident spread along 
the canal and the canallers to a man were anxious to 
help Captain Pride secure another boat. One of the 
merchants in Covington gave him lumber to build 
a new boat, and several of the canallers immediately 
volunteered to help build the new craft. In a very 
short time they had built a new boat, much larger 
and more commodious than the old RED BIRD. It 
had much greater freight capacity and triple the 
cabin space, so that a few passengers might be can 
ried along with the freight. 

As each freighter arrived at the mill, its captain 
brought some piece of equipment for Captain Jim’s 
new boat. Some gave chairs and tables for the cabin, 
others brought brick for the fireplaces and kitchen 
utensils for Molly. One man brought two new tow- 
lines. 

But the crowning gift was from Matthew Burke. 
He was in Kentucky when news came to him of the 
RED BIRD’S catastrophe and he came with all 



238 


Towpath Andy 


speed, bringing a fine team of horses with him. The 
animals were not as well-matched as King and Duke, 
but they were good haulers and could take their place 
on the towpath while the blacks were resting from 
the haul. 

Matthew Burke would accept no money from the 
captain for the team, saying that it was his small 
contribution in return for Captain Jim’s kindness to 
his boy. He was doing well with his string of horses 
and had several thoroughbreds to deliver in the 
South for the racing season. 

After several weeks Captain Jim was ready to be- 
gin hauling with his new boat, which he had chris¬ 
tened MOLLY’S PRIDE. 

“You know,” said Andy, as he gazed with ill-con¬ 
cealed admiration at their new craft, “I’m almost 
glad we lost the RED BIRD, for this one is so much 
better.” 

“Well, it’s an ill wind you know,” replied Captain 
Jim, “and I agree with you. It’s going to be much 
more comfortable for Molly.” 



XV 

ANDY BURKE FINDS A NEW TOWPATH 


By the first of May Captain Pride was hauling 
again on the Wabash and Erie. With his new boat 
and second team, he was able to make much better 
time and haul much heavier loads. From early mom' 
ing until late at night, Andy and Captain Jim took 
turns walking the towpath, helped materially by 
Molly’s cheery presence and excellent cooking. 

On their return trips from Toledo they carried 


239 



240 


Tow path Andy 


a great many immigrants, hardy German folk who 
were seeking new homes in the West. The immir 
grants all had large families and even with the in- 
creased cabin space, Captain Pride was hard put to 
find room for the hordes of people who wanted to 
ship westward on his boat. Some of them came to 
Fort Wayne and changed to trains or stages there, 
but many made the full trip to Terre Haute. 

Even on their busiest days, Andy found a little 
time to study his lesson with Molly Pride. When' 
ever he took his turn at the sweep, she came up on 
deck, book in hand to help him with his work. Over 
and over they parsed every sentence in the grammar 
book, and recited page after page from the geogra' 
phy book, until Andy knew both books backwards 
and forwards. 

“Andy, I’m sure you’ll pass the examinations,” 
said Molly one day late in summer when they were 
resting between hauls. 

“I surely hope so, ma’am. If I don’t, it won’t be 
because you haven’t done your best.” 

“We haven’t touched the Latin and Greek, but 
I’m sure if you pass the other subjects, they will let 
you enroll in the preparatory department for the 



Andy Bur\e Finds a New Towpath 


241 


languages. I could help you a little in Latin, but I 
don’t know anything about Greek.” 

‘Til be lucky if I pass the other part, Miss Molly. 
It won’t be long now until I try it. I wonder when 
my father will be coming this way. I’ve saved some 
money, but not nearly enough for my expenses at 
Wabash.” 

“You’ll need some new clothes too, Andy, a new 
suit at least, for you can’t go to college in that canal 
outfit.” 

“A new suit! Why ma’am, I’ve never had a suit 
bought from a store. Some one in Covington gave 
me this one I’m wearing.” 

“It’s high time you had some store clothes then,” 
laughed Molly Pride. “We’ll look about for one the 
next time we’re in Toledo.” 

Thus the hauling continued. Lessons, towpath, 
immigrants, sweep, and lessons again, until the first 
week in September arrived. It was then that Mat" 
thew Burke appeared again on the canal in search 
of the MOLLY’S PRIDE. He caught up with the 
boat at Lafayette. 

“Think I wasn’t coming, Andy boy?” laughed his 
father, when he saw the boy’s relieved expression. 



242 


Towpath Andy 


“I hadn’t given you up yet. I was getting worried 
though, for I’ve spent almost all the money I earned 
this summer.” 

“That’s bad news. What did you buy?” 

“Well, Miss Molly thought I should have a new 
suit, a store suit, and it cost an awful lot.” 

“That’s all right, lad. It’s time you had a new suit. 
I think I can take care of your schooling. I’ve brought 
you a horse, too.” 

“A horse! Gee, Father! For my very own?” 

“Yes, she’s yours. It would be a long walk from 
the canal to Crawfordsville, I’m thinking. If you get 
hard up at school, you can sell the horse. When does 
school begin?” 

“The examinations are the tenth of September.” 

“I’m just in time then. Got some more news, son.” 

“What, Father?” 

“Well, I been gettin’ tired knocking about the 
country and I’ve about decided to settle down. 
Through the Musks I heard of a farm in southern 
Indiana which was going to be sold at auction. I 
kind-a thought I’d take in that s.ale just for fun. It 
was last week and would you believe it? I own that 
farm now.” 
















Andy Bur\e Finds a New Towpath 


£45 


“Geems! A farm in Indiana!” 

“Yep, near Evansville. I’m going to raise thon 
oughbreds just as your mother always wanted. Then 
I wanted you to have a home to come to during 
vacations.” Matthew Burke turned to Captain Pride. 
“What you plannin’ to do come next winter?” 

“Ask the boss!” replied Captain Jim, pointing to 
his wife. 

“We’re going to tie up for the winter with Uncle 
Mark. I’m to have my school again, and Jim will get 
some hauling, I hope.” 

“Then we won’t be so far apart,” put in Andy. 

“We’re counting on you and your father spending 
Christmas with us, Andy. Jim and I won’t take no 
for an answer.” 

“How about it?” asked Andy hopefully. 

“Mebbe we can make it. And thank you kindly.” 

A few days later Andy took leave of the boat at 
Lafayette and started to Crawfordsville and Wabash 
College. Riding the horse which his father had given 
him, he set out on the toll road, his belongings safely 
stowed in two saddle bags. He was a bit selfcon' 
scious in his store suit and sat rather awkwardly on 
the horse. 



246 


Tow path Andy 


But after he had ridden for some time, he forgot 
himself and rode gaily along thinking of his first 
meeting with Captain Jim just a year before. How 
much had happened in this one short year! He had 
learned many things on the towpath. What would 
his new life hold for him? 

Late in the afternoon he arrived at the dusty little 
village of Crawfordsville, nestling among beautiful 
forest trees. He stopped at the Ristine Tavern to 
inquire the way to Wabash College. The tavern 
keeper obligingly walked out to the hitch rack with 
him and pointed down the road. 

“It’s about a quarter of a mile from here, young 
man. New student, aren’t you?” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“Well, you can’t miss the campus, for it’s fenced 
in and has two buildings, big brick ones. Fine college, 
too. You won’t be makin’ any mistake cornin’ here.” 

Andy thanked him and mounted his horse. After 
a few minutes’ ride he arrived at the campus. He 
hitched his horse to one of the racks and walked up 
to the first building, saddle bags in hand. He did not 
see any students about, but in the hall he met one 
of the college tutors. 



Andy BurJ^e Finds a New Towpath 


247 


“How do you do, young man?” asked the tutor 
affably. 

“How do you do, sir? I am Andy Burke, a new 
student. Is Professor Hovey here?” 

“Andy Burke. Oh, yes, we’re expecting you. 
Professor Hovey is away from the campus at present. 
He’s in the East working on an endowment cam- 
paign for us. He left a message for you, though. 
You’re to live in this building, Foster Hall. The 
entrance examinations which you are to take will be 
held in the morning. There’s a notice on the bulletin 
board about them.” 

“I have a horse hitched outside. Where can I 
stable her?” 

“There are any number of places near the campus, 
Andy, where you can keep your horse. I’ll show you 
to your room now, for you probably want to get rid 
of those heavy saddle bags.” 

The tutor took him upstairs to the room assigned 
to him. 

“Some of the boys will be dropping in soon, Burke. 
We’re to have a big celebration tonight. The Callh 
opean Society is having a torchlight parade with a 
program afterward. Get your belongings stowed 



Towpath Andy 


away and your horse taken care of and I’ll see you 
at dinner tonight. I’ll introduce you to a lot of 
them.” 

The tutor went downstairs to take care of more 
new students. Andy looked around his room. 
Wabash College at last! He took out his few pos- 
sessions and began arranging them in the room. He 
would work hard here to justify the faith which his 
friends had in him. Captain Pride and Miss Molly 
were expecting great things from the towpath boy. 
The Musks, too, had wanted him to go to school. 
His father had made it possible for him to come to 
college and he must not disappoint him. His mother 
had always talked of education. 

Suddenly he heard the sound of running feet, com¬ 
ing along the hall toward his room. 

“Burke! Say, Andy Burke! Are you there?” 

“Yes,” called Andy, opening the door of his room. 

There were four young men of about his own age 
waiting for him. 

“Come on out, Burke. You’re just in time for the 
Calliopean celebration. Come along. We’re round¬ 
ing up all the new students.” 

“All right.” Andy seized his cap and hurried out 



Andy Burke Finds a New Towpath 


249 


with the boys, hurried out to a new towpath, the 
shining towpath of knowledge of which his mother 
had always dreamed. 
































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